5S- Quality Management System

Organize your next task with the help of 5S.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
What is 5S?
Why use 5S?
When and How to implement it?
Example
History
Summary
Short Video

Remember the last time you didn't like service at a restaurant and said "I want to speak to the manager"? Indeed it is important to have a good quality of the product/service that you are offering.

A quality management system (QMS) is defined as a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives.

By using a proper approach to achieve quality one can assure the product meets the customers' expectations and in return benefit your organization.

What is 5S?

Don't you feel good when you need a thing and find it without searching for it or without your mother's help? It feels like an achievement right!? Or do you feel you are more productive when your surroundings are clean? 5S is exactly that!

5S is defined as a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity.

The 5S are 5 tools that help improve the quality of the product/service, which start with the letter 's' hence the name 5S. The 5 names are originally named in Japanese, which was later also translated to English.

5S (Japanese Name)	5S (English name)	Definition
Seiri	Sort	Organize - Separate the tools, parts, processes, etc. and remove the unwanted parts.
Seiton	Set in order	Orderliness - Arrange the separated parts neatly and accessible
Seiso	Shine	Cleanliness - Clean the places arranged.
Seiktesu	Standardize	Standardize - Create a schedule to carry out Seiri, Seiton, Seiso regularly
Shitsuke	Sustain	Discipline - Create a habit to carry out 5S

These 5 tools Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiktesu and Shitsuke are 5S in a Quality Management System.

Why use 5S?

Practicing 5S will improve productivity both mentally and physically at the workplace as time is saved. It leaves a good impression on the customer when they visit. Safety is enhanced with losses being reduced.

When and how to implement it?

Any organization or even a person can apply 5S to improve the overall productivity of their work. One can implement it as instructed in the table above or refer to this image below.

Example

Let's continue with the example with the restaurant you were in and didn't enjoy their services. The restaurant can appley 5S as follows:

Seiri - All the unnecessary and unwanted utensils, dishes, towels, etc. were discarded.
Seiton - All the items were placed neatly such that they are accessible.
Seison - Every place in the restaurant was cleaned with no dust/dirt left behind.
Seiketsu - The manager ensured that 5S was followed regularly with a schedule.

History

The history of 5S goes back as far as the 16th Century and Venice shipbuilders. In this way, they would produce, build ships in hours instead of days. Then, Sakichi Toyoda and his son Kiichiro, as well as Toyota engineer Taiichi Ohno, developed the 5S methodology, or what they called the Total Production System of TPS after World War II to improve productivity and reduce waste in time.

Summary:

5S is a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity.
5S stands for - Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiktesu, and Shitsuke which means Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize,
and Sustain respectively.
Any organization or even a person can apply 5S to improve productivity.

Short Video

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