5S

Seiri – Sort

Seiton – Set in Order

Seiso – Shine

Seiketsu – Standardize

Shitsuke – Sustain

5S is a foundational system in Lean Manufacturing used to organize workplaces for efficiency, safety, and consistency. The name comes from five Japanese words that describe steps to create and maintain an effective work environment.

Here’s what each “S” stands for:

1. Sort (Seiri)

Remove unnecessary items from the workspace.
Only keep what is needed for the job.

Goal: Eliminate clutter and distractions.

2. Set in Order (Seiton)

Arrange tools and materials so they are easy to find and return.

Goal: “A place for everything, and everything in its place.”

3. Shine (Seiso)

Clean the workspace and inspect equipment regularly.

Goal: Maintain cleanliness and identify issues early.

4. Standardize (Seiketsu)

Create consistent procedures and visual standards for the first three steps.

Goal: Make best practices the norm.

5. Sustain (Shitsuke)

Maintain discipline to continue following 5S over time.

Goal: Build habits and a culture of continuous improvement.

Why it matters

5S is often one of the first steps in Lean because it:

Reduces wasted time searching for tools
Improves safety
Increases productivity
Makes problems visible
Builds a culture of accountability

Video Summaries of the 5S method

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5S