The 5S Method

Digital tools for 5S

5S is a methodology for creating a structured, spacious, and clean workplace. It's about creating a common standard for how things should be organized and kept in place, making it easy to find what you need and ensuring the workplace is well-maintained. With Boards on Fire, you get digital tools that help you start your 5S work step by step in all areas. You can create customized checklists that make it easy to carry out regular 5S audits to check progress throughout the company. And you have a solid foundation for discussing results and finding suitable improvements for each area.

The Five Steps in 5S

1. Seiri (Sort): Go through all items in the workplace and sort out what isn't used or necessary.
2. Seiton (Set in order): Organize items systematically so that it's easy to find and use what's needed.
   
   
3. Seiso (Shine): Clean and maintain the workplace regularly, keeping it in good condition.
   
   
4. Seiketsu (Standardize): Establish common standards for organizing and maintaining the workplace, ensuring it's easy to keep it orderly.
   
   
5. Shitsuke (Sustain): Cultivate a culture where all employees take responsibility for keeping the workplace organized and clean.

5S audit in Boards on Fire

In Boards on Fire, it's simple to create checklists for regular audits of areas covered by 5S work. Using such a checklist, you can gain insights into areas that need improvement and help identify best practices that can then be shared across other departments or workstations. After each audit, results should be reviewed with the team, and plans made to address identified shortcomings.

Here we have listed an example of how questions for each "S" in such a checklist might look. The fulfillment of each question in the given area might be assessed on a scale of 1-5. Then, you can track the progress month by month in each area, but also cumulatively for an entire department or even an entire factory.

5S Checklist:

1. Seiri (Sort)

• Are there any unused or unnecessary items in the work area?
• Have items not used daily been removed from the work area?
• Have all tools and materials been marked as "necessary" or "unnecessary"?

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2. Seiton (Set in Order)

• Does every item have a designated and marked place?
• Is it easy to access and return items?
• Is it easy to identify items' places when they aren't in their spot?

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3. Seiso (Shine)

• Is the work area clean and free from dirt, dust, or spills?
• Is there a clear checklist for daily cleaning?
• Is machinery and equipment cleaned regularly?

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4. Seiketsu (Standardize)

• Are there clear instructions or manuals for maintaining 5S in the work area?
• Are these standards easily accessible to all employees?
• Are there regular 5S training sessions?

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5. Shitsuke (Sustain)

• Are 5S practices regularly followed and improved upon?
• Are staff engaged and involved in the 5S process?
• Have any violations of 5S principles been reported and addressed?

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