The need for Housekeeping. How it fits in with Lean Manufacture and Continuous Improvement.

• The 5-S system is a series of activities designed to improve workplace organization and standardization. These five activities, all of which begin with the letter S, include:
  
  
• 1. Sort . . . . . . . . Remove all unneeded items
  2. Set . . . . . . . . . Set limits and create temporary location indicators
  3. Shine . . . . . . . Clean everything, use cleaning as inspection
  4. Standardize . .Implement visual displays and controls
  5. Sustain . . . . . . Keep in place through training and total employee involvement and discipline

This basic philosophy is applied in unique ways for many different situations such as: to improve or design workstations, to improve overall plant organizations, to improve plant safety, to create visual aids, to standardize systems across work areas so employees can help each other out easier, and to increase efficiency and quality.

• Benefits
  • Improve quality
  • Achieve work standardization
  • Decrease changeover time
  • Improve safety
  • Reduce storage costs
  • Reduce cycle time
  • Reduce machine down time
  • Boost employee morale as well as work environment