5 S Methodology

5 S Methodology came from the Japanese management system. It enhances the working conditions. And the productivity at the work place.

This methodology asks for the workplace organization that is every thing is at its place. Organized and systematized working environment enhances productivity, and from work study point of view it ensures no fatigue or lesser fatigue.

The people at the work station are made accountable and responsible for maintaining the work place clean and organized. This empowers the people at work stations, and makes them feel the ownership of that particular workstation.


This methodology makes people to realize their worth in the organization and their contribution towards realizing the goals of organization; as if they are the integral part of organization (the ownership feeling helps in stemming this strong motivational and inspirational psyche).
This methodology is based on five Japanese terms, each term is an important step in achieving the desired improvement, and these five steps are to be performed step by step taking one step at a time. The initial inertia (resistance to change) has to be overcome before implementing this methodology. But once implemented the results are tangible and are readily visible in the form of increased productivity, improved working conditions, quality, improved employee morale, and the most important but not the last is the improved safety at work stations.

So, what are those 5 S?, Let’s take one at a time and in the sequence they occur:

a). Seiri : In simple English it is termed as sorting, it simply asks for the sorting of all the equipments, tools and materials between essential and those which are not essential. Keep only the essential items near the workplace, non-essential items are to be discarded or put in store. Now those essential items have to keep in a way in which they are easily approachable.

b). Seiton : It simply means setting the things in order. Now once the sorting is completed, the items are kept in orderliness, according to the work flow. Demarcate or put appropriate labels at places, where those items are kept. All the items have to be placed and found at their designated place when you are looking for an item or after their use is over.

c). Seiso : It simply calls for cleanliness. Make sure that the working area is clean. Keep the working area tidy and organized, all the items have to be returned to their demarcated place after their use. And the guys need to clean/sweep their workplace before leaving their work station.
d).Seiketsu: (Standardizing). Now things need to be standardized, so that any person can work at all the workplaces. The things are standardized and all the workstations are identical and all the places are clearly demarcated. Work practices (from above three 3 S’s) need to be made more consistent. The workers at the stations are made accountable and responsible for the well being of the workplace.

e). Shitsuke: It calls for sustaining all the above 4 S’s. It calls for discipline. The good work done in above 4 S’s need to be sustained. This is the toughest part. Once you have achieved the results, they need to be monitored and verified / validified. Otherwise the system may drift to the old days of working. Now this is not the end of the road, we have achieved the better condition. It still is not the best, so look out for better ways of improvement.

From my experience in the industry, I have found the two most important stages in applying these methodologies. Firstly the initializing stage, when we need to overcome the inertia (resistance to change) and the last S – shitsuke, if things are not kept in control/monitored, things may slip and we may return to old ways of working.