Business Improvement
Organise any workplace with the 5S method
A simple way to reduce searching, mistakes and wasted time, in an office, workshop or store.
- SortRemove the unneeded
- SetA place for everything
- ShineClean and inspect
- SustainMake it a habit
What you need
- One small area to start with
- The team who work there, plus about two hours
Sort: remove what is not needed
Go through every item with the team. Tag anything not used recently and move it to a holding area. If nobody needs it after a set period, such as a month, dispose of it properly.
Set in order: a place for everything
Put what you use most within easy reach, and label shelves, drawers and folders so anyone can find things and see when something is missing. The same approach works for shared computer folders.
Shine: clean and inspect
Clean the area and use this as an inspection: leaks, damaged tools and worn parts are easier to spot in a clean place. Note what needs repair.
Standardise: make it the normal way
Write down the agreed layout and take a photo of how the area should look. Give each task an owner and a simple schedule.
Sustain: keep it going
Do a short check regularly, using the photo as your standard, and share the results with the team. 5S usually fails because the first big clean-up is treated as the finish, rather than the start of a habit.
Want this set up for your business?
We can plan, build and hand it over to your team.