5S System - Sustain - Avoid Backsliding

Introduction to the Five S's

The final step is to continue training and maintaining the standards. Have a formal system for monitoring the results of your Five S program.

Don't expect that you can clean up, get things organized and labeled, and ask people to clean and inspect their areas every day -- and then have everything continue to happen without any follow-up.

Continue to educate people about maintaining standards. What there are changes - such as new equipment, new products, new work rules - that will effect your Five S program and adjustments to accommodate those changes.

Think of this step as sustaining the benefits you are getting from your Five S program.

Use equipment such as labelers, sign makers and PosterPrinters to help inform and educate people about your Five S program, new procedures and standards.

The other four steps are: Sorting - Systematic Organization - Shine - Standardize