 The 5 S's
Seiri (Sort)
Often translated as sort, seiri can also connote tidiness, cleaning, or separating.
Seiri is the first step in the 5S process and involves the meticulous examination of everything in the work environment. All extemporaneous materials or anything unrelated to the workplace are removed from the area. These items can be either stored for possible future use or discarded.
Not everything without an immediate use needs to be thrown out. A key to implementing seiton effectively is the creation of a "red label" zone. Items with potential future use should be red-tagged and moved to a designated area.
By removing clutter and unnecessary debris, 5S eliminates hazards in the work space. A cleaner, better functioning workspace is left.
Productivity increases because seiri has removed both distractions and obstructions to efficient and productive work. The separation of frequently used tools from rarely used items streamlines work to create faster, leaner, and safer working conditions.
Once sorted, keeping important tools, rubbish, and long-term supplies clearly organized takes a well labeled environment.
Seiri | Seiton | Seiso | Seiketsu | Shitsuke
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