From another blog re: 5S
A blog I check into fairly often is Evolving Excellence. Too often, they get into "the guv'mint is always bad" political posts (which wouldn't be so bad but they aren't real smart about it...I always call them on it and it's pretty much like shooting fish in a barrel). But they also are tough on big companies that ship work overseas in the futile search for high quality at the cheapest labor dollar, which I like. When they actually address lean issues (too infrequently for a blog devoted to lean, IMHO), they're pretty smart.
Anyway, I found a couple of posts at the blog on 5S. And since we're about to talk a lot about 5S (or some of its components, at least), I figured they'd be worth your look.
Here's the first. The author is obviously not a fan of poorly implemented 5S (as none of us is) and he seems to assume that all 5S is poorly implemented. And, if the video he links to is any indication, he might be right. But keep reading...he makes several good points as the article wends its way along, including the following:
Here's the other article from the same blog. (You'll think you've been linked to the wrong article but read down a few paragraphs.)
Here's what the author says:
Anyway, I found a couple of posts at the blog on 5S. And since we're about to talk a lot about 5S (or some of its components, at least), I figured they'd be worth your look.
Here's the first. The author is obviously not a fan of poorly implemented 5S (as none of us is) and he seems to assume that all 5S is poorly implemented. And, if the video he links to is any indication, he might be right. But keep reading...he makes several good points as the article wends its way along, including the following:
"5S is most importantly the disciplined visual control over each operation within the manufacturing process. It is the tool that enables you to rest assured that the kanban is working. It is the physical manifestation of standardized work. It is the essential support for operator-performed maintenance activities. It enables everyone on the shop floor to know that the machine set-up/changeover process is operable as designed. In short, it is the intersection of all of the process optimization and control aspects of lean."Well said. 5S (or the components therein) should NOT be implemented simply so that the plant looks better. It's not worth the trouble. 5S is all about visual control of processes: you should be able to tell at a glance whether or not your processes are in control or not. 5S creates the foundation for this condition. Yes, your organization will look better. But that's just a happy by-product.
Here's the other article from the same blog. (You'll think you've been linked to the wrong article but read down a few paragraphs.)
Here's what the author says:
"5S is the systematic integration of all of the facets of manufacturing in the workplace in a manner that assures the best cost, optimum flow, perfact quality and absolute safety."
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