What’s Your Approach to 5S?
I recently responded to a question about 5S on a forum. The gist was that the person wanted to know how long to expect 5S to take.
Both myself and another responder quickly mentioned that 5S takes a long, long time. He said months; I said it is never done. The point we both made was that 5S is neither quick, nor easy, despite the simplicity of the concept.
From Our 5S Training
(Learn more about our 5S module. Our 5S module has an available Trainer Download Pack a Lean Lego exercise.)
I did, though, see something else in the question that I wanted to ask you about.
The person posting the question was clearly doing 5S as a project. I am a big advocate of not doing 5S on its own. My logic is that your continuous improvement resources are severely constrained. I have yet to encounter the organization that says, “We’ve got so little to do and so much time.” It is invariably the opposite.
So I press people to do 5S as part of improvement efforts. If you are going to make a fixed location for a wrench and mark the location, shouldn’t it be where it will best serve the process? I recommend to people that they develop a good 5S system and then lean (pun unintended) on it whenever they work to improve a process.
Doing improvement projects with 5S included is much slower than simply 5Sing a work area, but I have found that the results are better and more sustainable.
So, what do you think?
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5 Comments
Chris Paulsen · March 14, 2011 at 11:37 am
Jeff,
While 5S can be a valuable tool by itself, I prefer to launch it in preparation for starting the Lean journey. The Standardization & Sustain steps will help instill valuable discipline needed for the Continuous Improvement journey.
Thanks,
Chris
http://wp.me/pZiRD-7a
Jeff Hajek · March 14, 2011 at 11:47 am
Chris,
That makes sense to use 5S as a starting point. I’m a fan of doing whatever gets people on board.
But my question is more about whether 5S should be done on its own in a company that is further along on its Lean journey. What are your thoughts on that?
Jeff
Chris Paulsen · March 14, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Jeff,
I’d be willing to launch 5S on it’s own if the company is already on the Lean path. It would still make their foundation stronger as it helps instill the right mindset and will improve the workspace. At the same time, it would make sense to do it with a project if you have one that really has a good tie to 5S. A new line or new equipment installation comes to mind as projects with a good tie to 5S. I would not wait too long for that project though. There is no time like the present for 5S.
Chris
Jeff Hajek · March 14, 2011 at 12:17 pm
By the way, Chris–
Would you be interested in being a featured Lean thinker? That feature has fallen by the wayside a bit, but I’d like to bring it back.
https://www.velaction.com/tag/featured-lean-thinker/
Jeff
Chris Paulsen · March 14, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Jeff-yes, it would be fun to be featured on your blog.
Chris