1. Sort - organization
2. Set in Order - neatness
3. Shine - cleanliness
4. Standardization – Same for everyone, everywhere
5. Sustain - discipline
The Five S’s are deceptively simple, yet quite powerful. Implementing the “S’s” will save you time, effort and money. First, let’s look at receiving, walk the floor, ask yourself the following questions, (be honest!)
Is everything neat and clean?
Are all tools, packing materials and paperwork in the right place?
Are all aisles free of clutter?
Are bins and shelves easily identified by tags, colors, labels?
Is the receiving dock empty clear and clean?
Is there a designated area for problem materials (wrong items, broken/damaged items)?
Has everyone in receiving been trained?
Do they all know the procedures to receive, put away, stage?
Are procedures written down and performed consistently?
I bet some of your answers are:
“No, Sort of, Not really, Some of the time…”
And my favorite – “No, but” – as in…
“No, but we don’t have the space.”
“No, but everyone knows what’s in the bins.”
“No, but we don’t have ‘problem’ materials.”