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Update on the lean program
March 2008
What Is 5S
5S is a philosophy and a way of organizing and managing the workspace by eliminating waste.
The 5S is a list of five Japanese words that begin with ‘S’: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke. The closest English equivalent is Sort, Straighten, Shine, Systemize (or Standardize) and Sustain.
Defining the 5S
- Seiri - Tidiness, Organization (Clearout and Classify)
- Seiton - Orderliness (Configure)
- Seiso - Cleanliness (Clean and Check)
- Seiketsu - Standards (Conformity)
- Shitsuke - Discipline (Custom and Practice)
The Program
SerCom Solutions decided to implement 5S globally back in 2006 as a means of underpinning our lean-manufacturing program. We established a 5S facilitator program by having key representatives from each functional area trained. With the help of some external consultancy, the group reached a level where they could deliver training to each individual within their respective department and we were on the way to changing the way we operated like never before.
On the back of our 5S Program we followed through with Lean Manufacturing training and created an environment where we shared ideas on how to become more efficient as a company and focused on customer satisfaction in achievement of our organizational goals. We see the 5S program as an integral part of our business now and it continues to bring benefits such as: Greater readiness for new tasks, improved housekeeping, improved health and safety, employee involvement, team building and attractive cost downs for our customers.