Basic Lean Courses

5S / Workplace Organization / Visual Workplace

“4S is the basis of TPS. 4S is a starting point of Kaizen. If you complete 4S, you will see abnormal conditions, so then you can find what Kaizen you need.” (Fujio Cho, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing in January 1988.)

When TPS was first introduced to North America, 4S is what was typically taught. Over the years, the 5^th S was added. The 5^th S is “sustain” or in TPS terminology, the 5^th S is the “system” – the system that sustains.

The 5S’s:

1) SEIRI (Shifting)

2) SEITON (Sorting)

3) SEISO (Sweeping & Washing)

4) SEIKETSU (Spic & Span)

5) SHITSUKE ( Sustain / System)

§ Philosophies of 5S

§ Responsibilities and enforcement

§ General Housekeeping and workplace organization

(A place for everything and everything in its place.)

§ Disposable Notice Cards (red cards)

§ 5S Implementation