| • | Sort - (seiri) This is a systematic sorting through every single item in the 5S event area. I mean everything! Items that obviously don't belong are put into the 5S Auction, taken home, or thrown away. Don't forget to recycle! This process should take one day or less. It is not something to be lingered over or discussed at length. |
| • | Sweep - (seiton) In this step the 5S target area is cleaned. This is real cleaning. After the sort, the place will be dusty and dirty. You can use a janitor, housekeeper, or can do it yourself. I recommend that the team members do as much as possible themselves for a complete sense of ownership. However, it may not be possible, so outsourcing is allowed. |
| • | Set in Order - (seiso) Now it is time to put everything in the place it is supposed to be. There should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place. Everyone needs to sit down and discuss how the 5S event area operates. How should it work? What makes the most sense for the flow of documents, products, or manufacturing. This will be discussed at the beginning, and may need to be revisited after the first two steps. |
| • | Standardize - (seiketsu) Making things make sence is how I would characterize this step. Everything should be labeled, each item has a home and anyone should be able to just glance at the work area and know where to put something or find something. |
| • | Sustain - (shitsuke) How are you going to keep all this up? Sustaining the gains is made so much easier by all the labeling that was done in the prior step! But, there is more... Being organized and sustaing the gain is part of the everyday routine. And because things are organized, it is so easy to do. |
