Seiri has two primary objectives, which include the removal of unnecessary objects and reduction of waste. The redundant objects may range from empty boxes through bins of rejected parts to old machinery. Some of those identified objects might have value but are merely inappropriate. Seiri is, therefore, the identification of the paramount physical organization of the working environment (Earley, 2011). Various workplaces are cluttered with objects that are no longer required. It does not only apply inside a factory. Offices may contain tons of old materials that should be archived offsite. Warehouse or workshops may include archaic raw materials, inventory or spare parts. Computer systems may also get messy with outdated programs or data that should be archived ( Titu, Oprean, & Grecu, 2010). Reducing waste goes beyond the actual removal of the waste materials; it involves identifying hindrances and coming up with ideas and opinions for improvements. Seiri performs activities mentioned above by use of the following methodologies: a critical look at the working environment involving cross-functional teams, eliminate the old materials and tagging of undefined items (Earley, 2011).
Seiton is defined as the process of taking the required items that are remaining after the removal of clutter and efficiently arranging them through the use of ergonomic principles and making sure that everything has its particular location for easy access and retrieval. The primary goal of Seiton is ensuring that items are in a convenient location. In practice, this implies store tools where they are used. The more frequently used items kept closer, reduce clutter by storing rarely used tools farther away, keep pathways smooth and clear and make it easy to collect and retrieve items. Once the storage space is available, the management must build a culture where things are stored where they belong and keep the work areas tidy (Warwood, & Knowles, 2004). To ensure convenient storage of items; seiton uses two primary methodologies, which include the rack system for easy retrieval and bin system for proper identification of things in a store or office. The mentioned methodologies are executed after storage space is available, then strategies established on how the items should be stored efficiently to maximize the space and ensure easy retrieval of the stored items.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Seiso is also known as a shiny clean. The primary goal of Seiso is to serve as a guideline to help organizations such as factories, hotels, and other companies to adopt a lifetime cleaning culture. It aids organizations to succeed in improving their professional image, reducing incidents of sick offs, improving employee job satisfaction, and increasing the levels of customer retention (Earley, 2011). Members should follow the following procedure to accomplish Seiso goals: divide the office, factory or workshop into many areas, assign members to the identified regions, train members on how to perform their duties and whom to report to in case of any concerns. Seiso approach is more than just the cleaning process; it is also inspection. While cleaning is being performed the workers also inspect items for damages, defects, and potential problems. Other tests can be performed concurrently to ensure it is in perfect order for example while cleaning an engine; the staff also does checks on the oil levels and oil cleanliness. Also, it can include preventive maintenance that guarantees processes do not fail during the normal operation. For instance, tightening up of hydraulic hoses to prevent leaks, examining and sharpening tools. Finally, Seiso is a one-time task. Members should record final state such that records are available on how clean workplace should be, as well as document a set of instructions and guidelines for the next steps.
References
Titu, M. A., Oprean, C., & Grecu, D. (2010). Applying the Kaizen method and the 5S technique in the activity of post-sale services in the knowledge-based organization. In Proceedings of the International MultiConference of Engineers and Computer Scientists (Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1-5).
Warwood, S. J., & Knowles, G. (2004). An investigation into Japanese 5-S practice in UK industry. The TQM Magazine , 16 (5), 347-353 .
Earley, T. (2011). What is 5S; Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke.
