Comments on: Making 5S Work

By: Steve Hudgik

Steve Hudgik — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:02:53 +0000

You mentioned color “coding the drill”. This raises the question as to whether there is a color coding standard for use with 5S. I’ve found that the answer is “no”, there is no official standard. However, a defacto standard has developed as a result of common use.

Using a standard color coding system throughout your organization helps to eliminate confusion and reduce training time.

A free reference showing the 5S Standard Color Code is available at: http://www.duralabels.com/free-5S-color-code-guide.asp

By: Jerry Mulenburg

Jerry Mulenburg — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 20:15:01 +0000

I am wondering if anyone has applied the 5Ss to project management (other than the construction site example above).

By: Alan Mossman

Alan Mossman — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 18:58:36 +0000

using 5S in construction or in a new venture requires some good thinking.

There is nothing to sort until construction starts, so start with *set in order* – plan the site before you arrive so that when you arrive everyone knows where things go — and agree it as the site *standard*; involve everyone in developing the plan, make it part of the initial and any subsequent phase scheduling/programming workshop; get your logistics people to make sure it happens that way.

Then *sweep and shine* to keep the site clean and tidy.

audit site workspaces on a regular basis (at least weekly) to help you *sustain* the standard

if things get out of hand *sort* — this might be good way to begin phases after the first or second for example.

This only applies to new sites/projects.

tradesmen’s toolboxes usually benefit from the full “manufacturing” 5S sequence. they generally carry many more tools than they will need on this project. how can we help them only carry the tools they need and make sure that they can find them within 5 seconds every time they want them? how can we help them see when a tool is not in its place? how can we help them take pride in having a neat and tidy workspace, toolbelt, etc.

By: Dennis Sowards

Dennis Sowards — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 15:11:56 +0000

The 5S’s work great in construction areas – office, shop, field and even in service trucks. One company I worked with had its engineering design group do the 5S’s and they were able to salvage $5000 worth of stuff they got rid of. They are only 6 engineers! In doing the 5S’s most people get real excited in the sorting step. It just feels good to get rid of stuff. The next 4S’s are harder to do but without them there is no long-term payoff. Another area to apply 5S’s is in one’s computer files & past emails. What is really needed?

Speaking about Lean applications at home. I was always frustrated that my children never put my tools back where they belonged. In learning the 5S’s I realized that I knew where I wanted my tools to be stored but it was not marked or explained to my children. How would they know?

There is much for all to learn.

By: Karen Wilhelm

Karen Wilhelm — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:06:31 +0000

I recently heard from a lean manufacturing practitioners group that one of their members approached an Indy car team and asked if she could take a crack at 5S-ing one of their toolboxes. Surprisingly, they said OK. After her work, they were able to cut pit time by 2 seconds. People who follow racing tell me that is enough to be a competitive advantage.