5S Visual Workplace Handbook
5S Visual Workplace Handbook
5S Visual Workplace Handbook
com/visualworkplace
5S / Visual Workplace
Handbook
Building the foundation for
continuous improvement
SORT
SHINE
SET IN ORDER
STANDARDIZE
SUSTAIN
5S WORKPLACE ORGANIZATION
5S is one of the most widely adopted techniques from the lean manufacturing toolbox. Along with Standard Work
and Total Productive Maintenance, 5S is considered a foundational lean concept, as it establishes the operational
stability required for making and sustaining continuous improvements.
The primary objective of 5S is to create a clean, orderly environment- an environment where there is a place for
everything and everything is in its place. Beyond this, many companies begin their lean transformation with 5S
because it exposes some of the most visible examples of waste it also helps establish the framework and discipline
required to successfully pursue other continuous improvement initiatives.
5S produces measurable benefits. One of the surest ways to identify these benefits is to establish and track specific
metrics. For example, measure the time required to locate items in the workplace before 5S and then measure the
time required after the workspace has been improved. Longer term benefits can also be measured by monitoring the
amount of workplace injuries reported after 5S has been implemented. Not only may workplace injuries decrease, but
training costs may, too. It is easier and faster to train employees in a work area that is orderly and well marked.
Another way to measure 5S benefits in the workplace is to take pictures. Pictures are very effective at visually
highlighting the improved appearance and order in the workplace. Concrete measurements are a complement to the
pictures, fueling the momentum needed to sustain 5S.
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WHAT IS VISUAL WORKPLACE?
Visual Workplace - also known as Visual Factory or Visual Management is a lean concept that emphasizes putting
critical information at the point of use. Visual systems and devices play a critical role in many of the most popular lean
tools, including 5S, Standard Work, Total Productive Maintenance, Quick Changeover, and Kanban (Pull Production).
In fact, Visual Workplace serves as the key sustaining force for these initiatives, because it ensures that lean and six
sigma improvements remain clearly visible, readily understood, and consistently adhered to long after the Kaizen or
rapid improvement event is over.
Successful lean initiatives start by establishing a base of operational stability. After all, you cant make lasting improvements
on a base of chaos. By reinforcing standards and highlighting abnormalities at a glance, visuals support the foundational
concepts of 5S, Standard Work, and Total Productive Maintenance, which are used to stabilize the work environment, work
methods, and equipment performance.
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Once a stable operating base has been Imp tC
established, the next step is to implement a
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S1 SORT
Sort refers to the practice of going through all the tools, materials, etc., in the work area and keeping only essential
items. Everything else is either stored offsite or discarded. This leads to fewer hazards and less clutter.
Red tags help identify unused items Items to be discarded are placed
in a local red tag area for removal.
The goal is to eliminate nonessential items from the workplace. Items are red tagged and stored in a local red tag
area for a specific period of time, typically five days. If not reclaimed by the work group, items are then moved to one
of the companys central red tag areas. Here everyone can sift through the items to see if there is anything they need.
When items have been in the central area for a specific period of time, the company disposes of them through resale,
donation, recycling, or trash.
Establishing red tag criteria prevents confusion among workers and reduces wasted effort. The team should discuss
and create guidelines on how to decide what stays and what goes.
Frequency of use is the fundamental red tag criteria. To that end, a team may ask the following questions:
What is this?
When did you last use it?
Is it critical or unique for the department?
If its inventory, is this the minimal amount needed to keep up with the production schedule?
In order to implement S1-Sort, there are action steps that need to be taken in order to guarantee success.
Select a 5S application area and take before pictures.
Review sorting criteria recommended criteria are frequency of use, criticality, and quantity needed for
production.
Create a red tag area mark off a corner or space to identify it as the local red tag area.
Tag, record, and move items to the red tag area keep records so that the company can track assets.
Take after pictures of the uncluttered work area and red tag area.
Items not reclaimed by the work group within a set amount of days are moved to the companys central red tag
area.
4
JOB AID - SORT
Progress Check
___ Team clear on workplace boundaries
___ Red tag final approval authority identified (e.g. item can/cannot be red tagged)
___ Sorting criteria established (e.g., frequency of use; actual quantity needed-no buffer)
___ Time allocated for Sorting is clearly defined (e.g., one hour)
___ Local red tag area designated with red floor marking tape or comparable boundary
___ Red tags and red tag log form available
___ Before pictures taken (remember camera angles so that pictures are consistent)
___ Nonessential items identified and red tagged
___ Every nook, cranny, cabinet, desk, drawer, and closet investigated
___ Red tagged items moved to local red tag area
___ Red tag log form updated
___ Plans in place for items to be moved to central red tag area after target number of days
___ After pictures taken
Tips
Go overboard on communication. Make sure management and employees in the target area are notified, when
the red tagging will occur, and so forth.
Remove anything from the core work area thats not used at least weekly.
Eliminate waste by minimizing the following:
- Inventory: raw materials, parts, in-process inventory, and products.
- Equipment: machines, jigs, tools, carts, desks, chairs, dies, vehicles, fixtures, etc.
- Space: floor area in the core work area, storage racks, totes, bins, shelving, etc.
Dont remove anything without the local work groups approval. Zealous 5Sers can undermine support by
barging ahead insensitively. Its better to compromise on some things than to jeopardize the 5S mission.
However, be persuasive when appropriate, when something is clearly a source of waste or is used infrequently.
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S2 SHINE
The S2-Shine step includes three primary activities which include getting the workplace clean, maintaining its
appearance, and using preventative measures to keep it clean.
Shine the workplace by eliminating dirt, dust, fluids, and other debris. Each team member should be equipped with
adequate cleaning supplies that have been tested to make sure the solution will not harm any equipment or work
areas. Teams can clean things such as equipment, tools, work surfaces, desks, storage areas, floors, lighting, and
anything else that affects overall cleanliness. A team may also paint or coat work surfaces, equipment, floors, and
walls.
Treat cleaning as an inspection process. Use it to identify even tiny abnormal and pre-failure conditions. Working in
a clean environment enables workers to notice malfunctions in equipment such as leaks, vibrations, breakages, and
misalignments. The Shine process should not be left for a special janitorial crew. In order to make sure everyone
participates and works together, each team should establish a regular schedule for routine cleaning as well as deep
cleaning.
Once the work area, tools, and equipment are clean, they need to be kept that way. Continued housekeeping is one
way to keep the work area clean, but the better method is to prevent things from getting dirty in the first place. Find
ways to keep the workplace clean by eliminating sources of contamination.Root cause analysis, mistake-proofing, and
the use of preventative measures are important to keep the workplace clean and orderly.
Equipment that is kept clean performs more efficiently, has less unscheduled downtime, and reduces costs to the
company. Many organizations find that safety and productivity improve as regular maintenance and housekeeping
become the norm.
6
JOB AID - SHINE
Progress Check
___ Team has established their definition for clean in the target workplace
___ Cleaning supplies collected
___ Housekeeping staff consulted about cleaning agents
___ Personal Protective Equipment (e.g., gloves, safety glasses) distributed
___ Equipment shutdown or locked out to prevent safety risks
___ Potential safety risks (e.g., metal shavings, sharp edges) identified before cleaning
___ Before pictures taken (remember camera angles so that pictures are consistent)
___ Cleaning tasks completed
___ After pictures taken
___ Observations shared among team members about inspection activity
Tips
Identify target areas for cleaning.
Consider doing the initial Shine process in waves. Do a first pass that addresses the biggest challenges. Use
additional passes to get successively better.
Remember that an important part of cleaning is inspection. As you get the work area clean, look for sources of
potential problems and contamination.
Once dirt, dust, grime and debris have been eliminated, consider painting surfaces or sealing them with a
protective coating. Youll be amazed by the visible difference.
How will cleanliness be sustained when the initial 5S project is complete? Record key cleaning points and
recommendations as youre wrapping up the Shine process. The information will come in handy in S4-Standardize.
A thorough cleaning process includes the obvious equipment and work surfaces, but also includes parts, storage
racks, tools, instruments, transportation vehicles, desks, chairs, walls, windows, closets and lighting. In short,
clean everything and everywhere in the workplace.
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S3 SET IN ORDER
Planning Phase
In S3 Set In Order, team members come together and share the insights they have gained during S1 and S2. They
analyze the work area for additional improvement opportunities and look for ways to reduce sources of waste and
error as well as to make the workplace more visually instructive. The team brainstorms potential solutions, with
special emphasis on using visual resources to achieve improvement. Be sure to get feedback and approval from
stakeholders (production, maintenance, safety, management, etc) before making changes.
Use the focus points below to guide efforts to redesign the workplace for improved performance.
Safety: Focus is on alerting people to potentially hazardous situations and controlling actions to
prevent an unsafe condition.
Provide hazard warnings and safe work instructions at the point of need.
Make sure that locations for lockout/tag out devices, eye wash stations, first aid stations, and
safety showers, etc., are clearly marked.
Ensure that the proper personal protection equipment is easy to access and ready for use.
Procedures: Focus is on employees ability to execute job responsibilities within a given workplace.
Make certain that the latest version of work instructions and job aids are posted.
Employ visual or auditory signals that alert operators to abnormal conditions.
Use mistake-proofing devices to prevent human and machine errors.
8
JOB AID - SET IN ORDER - PLANNING PHASE
Progress Check
___ Insights gained during S1 and S2 shared among team members
___ Improvement opportunities listed, discussed, and prioritized
___ Waste reduction ideas (e.g., excess motion, material handling, etc.)
___ Error reduction ideas (e.g., checklists, visual instructions, or color coding)
___ Ideas for making the workplace more visually instructive
Tips
Sketch ideas on flipchart or paper to build understanding and evaluate them.
Cellular workflow has many benefits. Consider it if the workplace is not currently organized that way.
Revisit the workplace to evaluate the viability of proposed changes.
Involve stakeholders (immediate work area and others) in thinking through changes.
Be sensitive to the concerns and reservations of stakeholders; they know the area best.
Quantify the impact of the changes.
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S3 SET IN ORDER
Implementation Phase
S3s Implementation Phase includes establishing features in the workplace that make it clear that theres a place
for everything and that provide visual signals to help people succeed. It focuses on the need for arranging tools and
equipment in an order that promotes optimum work flow.
Having designated locations for all items in the work area enables employees to take control over their operations.
Employees will be able to immediately see if things are out of place and if more materials, supplies, or tools need to
be ordered.
Clearly identify a location for each item Indicate max/min stocking levels
In order to successfully implement S3, there are common actions that need to be performed.
Place borders around equipment and objects that rest on the floor. This clearly identifies the location of
equipment and also warns people passing by not to get too close.
Use an address system to identify plant locations, storage areas, and shelf locations.
Label tools, fixtures, jigs, etc., for easy cross-identification with storage location markings.
Where possible, use pictures and graphics to facilitate recognition. Employees can implement this aspect of S3 by
placing parts or images of parts above storage locations or creating shadow profiles on tool boards
(see above image).
Take before pictures. This is your last chance to capture the past before you move towards the future.
Implement workplace changes. Plan to dodo the plan. Now is the time to implement your changes. Be sure to
involve necessary company personnel, such as skilled trades, plant maintenance, engineering, quality, etc.
Set locations by creating addresses and applying labels, markings, and color coding. Verify or create standards for
colors and character size before setting in order. See the person in charge of facilities or maintenance for input.
Take after pictures. Take lots of pictures they memorialize your success and serve as a valuable company
record.
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JOB AID - SET IN ORDER - IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
Progress Check
___ Before pictures taken
___ Plant Marking standards determined (see facility, maintenance, or operations manager)
___ 5S team clear on plan (e.g., goals/tasks/assignments on a flipchart)
___ Reorganization tasks completed (e.g., equipment moved, inventory relocated)
___ Set In Order/Plant Marking and Identification supplies collected
___ Marking and Identification tasks completed, for example:
___ Floor borders for walkways, workways, and storage locations
___ Work surface borders
___ Equipment and tools labeled
___ Inventory and finished goods locations marked and/or color coded
___ Tanks, pipes, valves, motors, electrical panels labeled or tagged
___ After pictures taken
Tips
Create a work area map before setting locations. Consider alternatives and draw them on the map to verify
effectiveness. Consider them thoughtfully before setting locations.
Consider engaging people outside the work team in setting locations. Consult mechanics, electricians, and
specialists in sanitation, safety, quality, production scheduling, and accounting in order to tap their ideas and
resources.
Remember that mechanics, electricians, and technical contractors are stakeholders for your reset initiative. Make
sure their interests are addressed.
Your Brady representative is also a great source for Set In Order ideas and supplies.
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S4 STANDARDIZE
During this phase of implementation, the team identifies ways to establish the improved workplace practices as a
standard. The goal of standardization is to create best practices and to get each team member to use the established
best practices the same way.
Activity Responsibility
1 Sweep the entire area at the end of the shift See Rotation
Put away any material that was removed from its assigned storage
2 location
Kevin
In order to standardize, roles and responsibilities must be clearly and consistently applied. This can be accomplished
through visual controls such as color-coding, flow charts, checklists, and labeling to help reinforce a uniformed
approach.
Managers and supervisors need to commit to the initiative in order to provide guidance, as well as to provide general
support to the team. Team members in return must embrace 5S principles and practices in order to help implement
these changes into their work area.
As 5S standards are adopted into each individual work area, each locale will develop unique approaches and methods
to accomplishing the specified tasks and goals. Any team member working in a specific area must receive training in
that specified approach and method of work. Where possible, the tools used to standardize and sustain the 5S effort
should be unified across all areas of the plant.
Brainstorm ideas for making the 5S changes standard operating procedure. That may mean updating workplace
procedures, checklists, job aids, diagrams and the like.
Update documentation to reflect the changes. If your company has an ISO Coordinator, get the person involved to
assure compliance with ISO requirements.
Make sure all stakeholders are aware of the new standard inform and educate.
12
JOB AID - STANDARDIZE
Progress Check
___ Ideas generated for establishing changes as standard operating procedure
___ Input solicited from those who create and maintain plant documentation
___ Documentation created or updated, for example:
___ Workplace diagrams
___ Flowcharts
___ Procedures
___ Work instructions
___ Job aids
___ Miscellaneous visual aids
___ Information and/or training provided to stakeholders to assure understanding
Tips
Network with others engaged in the same activity. Collaborate to establish common approaches for creating
documentation, visual aids, etc.
Tap your companys graphics staff or people with strong computer skills to help with visual aids. Provide them
with a rough sketch or an example from a technical manual or catalog.
If your company is an ISO company, be sure to involve your ISO coordinator to assure compliance with ISO
requirements for postings and documentation.
Having an organized facility marking program (standards for markings, color coding, etc.) is integral to 5S
success. Otherwise, each 5S team does its own thing and the visible effect is a haphazard approach that
could cause problems for everyone. Consult your Brady representative for guidance about an organized facility
marking program.
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S5 SUSTAIN
The purpose of S5-Sustain is to maintain the momentum generated during the initial event or project. A management
auditing process should be put into practice to ensure that employees understand that maintaining the level of
workplace organization is a top priority. Management audits should focus on ensuring that the routines and schedules
specified in S4 Standardize are being properly maintained. The audit also provides an excellent opportunity for asking
questions and providing suggestions that stimulate further improvements.
Next, the 5S effort needs to be expanded to other work areas. Use the 5Sed work area as a model for emulation,
and invite the original 5S team to share their ideas and experiences with employees from other work areas. Be sure
to publicize success stories and provide appropriate recognition to team members. 5S newsletters, displays, and
awards are excellent ways to build employee morale and motivation.
Finally, it should be reinforced that 5S is an on-going journey. Workers should be encouraged to continue to make
improvements to their workplace on a regular basis. The same work area might even be scheduled for a follow-up
5S event six months or a year later. Continuous improvement must become part of the routine expectations and
activities of the work day. When improvement stops, the likelihood is that workplace organization will not just
stagnate, but will actually deteriorate. To avoid that, keep everyone continually looking for ways to improve their work
conditions.
14
JOB AID - SUSTAIN
Progress Check
___ Sustain methods clearly defined, with responsibilities and target dates identified
___ Sustain actions implemented, for example:
___ 5S teams benchmark with each other and share ideas
___ 5S teams present projected results within the company and to others
___ 5S team results published in company communications
___ 5S teams visit other companies to get new ideas
___ Company leaders conduct 5S audits to see accomplishments and opportunities
___ Miscellaneous visual aids
___ Ideas generated for continuously improving the companys 5S approach
Tips
Establish a calendar for sustaining activities and stick to it. Make it part of the companys operating discipline.
Involve employees in sustaining 5S improvements. Engage them in evaluating areas outside their workplace,
providing support for other workplaces, and in visiting other companies that excel.
Establish a 5S resource center to provide 5S supplies for teams so that they can readily sustain and continuously
improve their 5S results.
An active management champion and the support of all managers is vital to 5S success.
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5S / VISUAL WORKPLACE AUDIT FORM
DEPARTMENT: AREA:
Number/Name
Supvr:
AUDITORS NAME: DATE:
Name Shift
POINTS Out of 6
POINTS Out of 4
POINTS Out of 5
POINTS Out of 6
SCORE (%)
Visual Organization
Visual Standards
Visual Equipment
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VISUAL WORKPLACE PHOTO GALLERY
Brady Visual Workplace Solutions
Brady offers products and services that can help you implement these ideas and more. For further information,
review the catalog and our website (www.bradyid.com/visualworkplace), or call us at 888-250-3089.
Brady has trained representatives locally available and ready to support you with expert advice and assistance.
Visual Safety
18
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