Since everyone on your team should be included in creating and attaining a well-organized, competent and economical system, the benefits of empowering your employees creates yet another virtuous cycle. It enriches the workplace and the work experience by allowing members of your company to excel and “bring out their best.”
After you and your team have created more efficient processes, you will gain faster lead times as well as keep wages down, all of which will help keep you ahead of your competition. You can then add those new moneymaking activities to your Best Practices and SOP arsenals for redistribution and reinforcement.
The methods that can help you successfully manage and organize the workplace in kaizen are called the 5S’s, or “good housekeeping,” as referred to by others. They are set in place with the intention to simplify the work environment.
The 5S’s are loosely translated as
Seiri (Tidiness): Unused and unneeded items are cleared out (this applies to your contact management system too). Keeping your data organized, refreshed, properly labeled and backed up are efficient ways for you and your staff to locate data as needed. The benefits of applying Seiri are a safer and tidier environment, less time wasted when searching for items, fewer hazards, less clutter to interfere with productive work space, and additional space from cleared out items.
Seiton (Orderliness): “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Seiton focuses on the need for an orderly workplace to promote workflow.
Seiso (Cleanliness): Indicates the need to keep the workplace clean daily, as well as neat. The key point is that maintaining cleanliness should be part of the daily workânot an occasional activity initiated when things get too messy.
Seiketsu (Standardization): When the first three are set in place, they are then standardized. Create the rules, and then regulate them. Since it is easy to fall into old habits, this sets easy-to-follow standards and develops structure and conformity.
Shitsuke (Sustenance): This refers to educating and maintaining standards. Once the previous 4S’s have been established, they become the new way to operate. Maintain the system and continue to improve it.
