5 ‘S’ Principles |
1 | Sort | Sort through items and put in groups, needed and not needed. Get rid of unneeded items. |
2 | Straighten | Organize the work area – A place for everything and everything in its place. |
3 | Shine | Do regular cleaning to your work area. |
4 | Standardize | Use pit inspection list twice a day for the pit area. |
5 | Sustain | Make 5S a way of life. Assure that all team members know the importance of 5S for the success of the team. |
5 | Sustain | Make 5S a way of life. Assure that all team members know the importance of 5S for the success of the team. |
Applying the 5S Principles to any team can dramatically increase safety pits and shops everywhere. The 5S’s are a standard which is commonly used throughout industries to keep work spaces safe and efficient. With pits having a space constraint of 10 square feet it is important to apply the 5s’s to maximize space, become more efficient, and altogether become a safer team.
- Ways to Sort:
- Decide is needed and not needed
- Needed things include but are not limited to:
- Tools
- Spare parts
- Robot
- First Aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Not needed things include but are not limited to:
- Jackets
- Food and drinks
- Personal items
- Trash
- Ways to Straighten:
- Organize
- Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Label bins and drawers.
- Tape off sections on the floor
- This keeps everything out of the way and in its own place
- Ways to Shine:
- Sweep up the floor
- Clean off surface with a hand broom or vacuum
- Keep things looking straight and neat
- Ways to Standardize
- Routinely clean up
- Make a pit inspection form
- An example can be found in the FIRST Safety manual
- Ways to Sustain:
- Make sure the 5S’s are understood and followed by everyone on the team
- Give safety demos
- Teach members about pit inspection forms and encourage everyone to do it once
- Develop a succession plan
- Start training next safety captain a year before the current one leaves