5s Marking

If the overall goal of 5S could be summed up in a single word, it would be "organization" An organized workplace is a safer more efficient workplace, where morale is up, waste is down, and preventable accidents simply do not occur. We can all agree that we'd like to work in organized surroundings, but how do we get there?

If you answered thoughtful, comprehensive floor markings, you're either way ahead of the curve or you read the headline above. Either way, that's a great answer, because not only can floor markings go a long way toward improving your 5S organizational efforts, but they're also incredibly cost effective. Thanks to their high-visibility and long lifespan, coupled with a low cost per foot, floor markings can make a huge difference in your facility, without putting a big dent in your budget.

5S Steps

1. Step 1 - Sort

The very first step of 5S is deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Sort through all of the tools and materials onsite and only keep essential items. Discard everything else to keep your workplace clutter and hazard free.

2. Step 2 - Set In Order

Perhaps the most obvious use of floor markings, the Set In Order step is focused on finding a proper place for everything in the workplace. That includes not only products, materials, and equipment, but also workers, forklifts, desks, pallets, and anything else that might be located in a facility.

3. Step 3 - Shine

By eliminating dirt, dust, sources of contamination and other debris, as well as inspecting equipment, you can improve the safety and productivity of your facility. The Shine pillar is concerned with cleaning, and while floor markings won't wash your windows, they can help make repeated cleaning efforts simpler and more effective by creating visual cues for where cleaning supplies are located, and providing (literal) guidelines for each distinct area of the facility.

4. Step 4 - Standardize

Expand your efforts and create best practices to develop company standards. This is done with clear and consistent visual controls, roles and responsibilities. The goal of the standardize pillar is simple: Take stock of all the progress you've made in the prior three pillars and find ways to ensure those gains don't dissipate. Those ways might include regularly scheduled 5S events, a chart detailing cleaning and organization duties and who is responsible for each, and frequent gemba walks to evaluate the ongoing status of the facility.

5. Step 5 - Sustain

Ensure employees understand that workplace organization is a top priority and strive to continually improve the workplace. The most important pillar, Sustain aims to continue the progress you've made in the prior four steps well into the future. High-durability floor markings, prove especially effective here, as their long lifespan and refusal to fade, crack, or flake off provides clear visual cues that you can rely on day after day. That's one less aspect of your ongoing 5S efforts to worry about.