5S steps and staged audits: sort, set, shine, standardise, sustain

5S brings the workplace to an order where everything needed is in its place and visible. The five steps are applied in order and each depends on sustaining the previous one.

• Sort (Seiri): red-tag what is not needed.
• Set in order (Seiton): a place for everything and everything in its place.
• Shine (Seiso): cleaning is also inspection.
• Standardise (Seiketsu): tie the first three steps to visual standards.
• Sustain (Shitsuke): turn it into habit with audits and feedback.

Staged audits

Asking every 5S question of an area on day one is discouraging. In a staged audit the area first passes the questions of step one and is promoted to the next stage once it reaches the set score. The area's stage is visible on the board.

Photo audits

Auditors can attach a photo to each question; non-conformities go to the owner as actions. A photo from the same angle in the next audit is the best evidence of progress.