The 5 Ss needed to create a lean manufacturing unit

An overview of the 5 Ss a companies needs to create a lean manufacturing unit

Skinner reported it is essential to master the 5 Ss if one is going to create a lean manufacturing unit.

These are:

Sort: Sorting leads to organization because the sort process requires people to remove any item that is not needed for production. This is a difficult task for most people because they are afraid to get rid of things and data. Items need to be red-tagged and then evaluated in terms of the value to the operations. It is best to work on one area at a time.

Set in order: Again, this is organizational; it organizes each work area for maximum efficiency. To set in order means to arrange all the needed items so they are easy to use. They are also labeled so that anyone in the shop can find, use, and put them away. Setting in order eliminates a great deal of wasted time and energy.

Shine: This refers to everything in the work area being cleaned. The area is turned into a clean, bright place in which to work. Again, getting rid of dirt and litter speeds the operations process.

Standardize: This is a plan that allows workers to maintain continual improvement activities. For instance, a plan for standardizing the clean up process.

Sustain: Sustaining involves workers in planning how to keep the work area organized and clean. Designated tasks for each person that are completed on a regular basis is the key (Skinner, 2001, p. 5).

Northrup Grumman provides a good example of how well the 5 S system can work. The company first implemented the 5 S system on a part of their delivery process. The work area was changed from different components into a single product. Prior to using this system, the area was disorganized and inefficient. Using this system, however, reduced the space employees needed to travel to complete their tasks by 93 percent. They also realized a 42 percent reduction in the total floor space used (Skinner, 2001).