The Five-S System
Industrial Labeling > Five-S System > Shine

Shine - Get Everything Cleaned Up

Getting everything cleaned up just not mean just the first time. It means to get cleaned up and establish standards and proceedures for keeping everything clean. Once you have everything sorted and organized, if you just let it go back to being disorganized, you have accomplished nothing. So regular cleaning is required - that's why this step is called "shine".

Regular, usually daily, cleaning is needed or everything will return to the way it was. This could also be thought of as inspecting. While cleaning it's easy to inspect the machines, tools, equipment and supplies you work with. This will help you stop problems, wear and maintenance needs before they become serious.

Regular cleaning and inspection makes it easy to spot lubricant leaks, equipment misalignment, breakage, missing tools and low levels of supplies. Problems can be identified and fixed when they are small. If these minor problems are not addressed while small, they could lead to equipment failure, unplanned outages or long - unproductive - waits while new supplies are delivered. This advantage alone can quickly pay back the cost of implementing a Five-S System.

Regular cleaning also improves safety. It provides a way to spot, and eliminate safety hazards before someone is injured. It removes materials from the work area, such as scrap and unused tools, that could be the cause of an accident. And a clean workplace makes it easier to spot hazards and items that are out of place.

What are the Five S's?

Sorting - Systematize - Shine - Standardize - Sustain