What is 5S?
5S is a workplace organization method from Japan, named after five words that start with S: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke. A 5S workplace is clean, orderly and visual: anyone can see at a glance whether things are where they should be. That cuts searching and motion, prevents errors and accidents, and makes problems visible. 5S is usually the first step of a lean program because it builds the discipline that standard work and every later improvement depend on.
The five pillars of 5S
| S | Japanese | What it means | Typical tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sort | Seiri | Remove everything not needed for the work | Red-tag campaign, holding area |
| Set in order | Seiton | A marked home for every item, near its point of use | Shadow boards, floor marking, labels |
| Shine | Seiso | Clean, and inspect while cleaning | Cleaning schedules, eliminating sources of dirt |
| Standardize | Seiketsu | Make the first three S the normal way of working | Photo standards, checklists, visual management |
| Sustain | Shitsuke | Make it a habit | Audits, training, leader routines, gemba walks |
How to run a 5S audit
- Go to the area with the team: audit what you see, not what you are told.
- Score every item on the same scale each time, so results can be compared.
- Note specific findings: "empty pallets at the end of aisle B", not "untidy".
- Agree actions with owners and dates before you leave the area.
- Post the result and review it at the next team meeting.
5S audit example
The example audits a pump assembly cell against a target of 80%. Sort and Shine score highest; Set in order is pulled down by missing min/max levels on the O-ring and screw bins, and Standardize by standards posted at only two of five stations and three open findings from the last audit. Compared with the previous audit, every S has improved, most of all Standardize. The low scores turn into four actions, including fixing an oil leak found during the Shine check.
How to use this 5S Audit tool
- Describe the audit. Enter the area, the auditors, the date and your target score.
- Walk the area. Go through the checklist for each S and score every item from 0 to 4. Edit or add items to fit your area.
- Record findings. Write what you saw next to each item, especially for low scores.
- Compare with last time. Enter the previous audit scores. The radar chart compares this audit, the previous one and the target.
- Turn findings into actions. Click "Actions for low scores" to add an action for every item scored 0 or 1, then assign owners and due dates.
- Export and post. Export the audit to PDF or Excel and post the radar on the area's board.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5S?
Sort (Seiri): remove what is not needed. Set in order (Seiton): a place for everything, everything in its place. Shine (Seiso): clean and inspect. Standardize (Seiketsu): make the first three routine with standards and visual controls. Sustain (Shitsuke): make it a habit through training, audits and leadership.
How do you score a 5S audit?
Rate each checklist item, typically from 0 (not in place) to 4 (fully in place and sustained). The score of each S is its points as a percentage of the maximum, and the overall score is the total for all items. Track the scores over time on a radar chart to see which S needs attention.
How often should 5S audits be done?
Many sites run a short self-audit by the area team weekly and a cross-functional audit monthly. Regular audits are part of Sustain: they keep attention on the standard and turn findings into actions before the area slips back.
What is a good 5S score?
Scores depend on how strict the checklist is, so compare an area with itself over time rather than with other sites. As a rough guide, below 40% is poor, 40–60% basic, 60–80% good and 80% or more excellent. Set a target and close the gaps S by S.
What is 6S?
6S adds Safety to the five S. Some organizations make safety a separate pillar with its own checklist items; others include safety in every S. You can add safety items to any pillar in this tool.
Who should do the 5S audit?
The people who work in the area, together with someone from outside it (a leader or a colleague from another area). The team knows the area; the outsider sees what the team has stopped noticing. Audits should be fair, frequent and focused on the area, not on individuals.