A linchpin of any lean manufacturing effort, 5S programs help to reduce waste and optimize productivity through better workplace organization.
For the uninitiated, the five S’s stand for sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. The process can seem intimidating, but does not need to be. “You don’t have to get the 5S process perfect right away,” says Tina Huff, group product manager at Avery Products Corp., a commercial and industrial label manufacturer. “Just get started and keep improving over time.”