Using the 5S Approach

• A corrugated box manufacturer that spent two weeks implementing 5S improved its productivity by 40% and reduced inventory requiring storage by 30%.
• A hospital emergency room standardized its trauma bays so that the hospital staff knew where essential items were located regardless of the room they were in.
• An insurance office that instituted 5S reduced paperwork by 30%, resulting in a 50% increase in claims processing.
• A textile mill reduced obsolete material, work in process, and inventory freed up floor space, eliminating the need to lease additional warehouse space.

Concluding comments

Commercial agricultural producers want to do business with professional organizations, and urban customers expect professionalism as well. Gone are the days where a dusty, cluttered office with a 1972 calendar on the wall will cut it. Utilizing a 5S strategy puts a professional face on your business, and will send all kinds of positive messages to employees as well. In addition, focus on the physical plant will be translated into the kind of attention you want in customer relationships! In the end, “5S-ing” your elevator or feed plant may lead to a much needed spring cleaning for your relationships with key accounts. There is a reason that advice like “clean your room” or habits like spring cleaning stick around — they work… so maybe our suggestions aren’t so Japanese after all.