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Purchasing guide: Choosing products to implement the 5S in Lean Management
Lean Management is a model of work structure with the aim to eliminate all the kinds of waste that reduce a company’s efficiency and performance. This concept is aimed at achieving performance through continuous improvement. Our offer fits in perfectly with this approach and contributes fully to optimising your workspace in the workshop by making it better organised, more efficient, productive, and safer. Discover our products for implementing the 5S in Lean Management for your company.
What is Lean Management?
Inspired by the Toyota production system, Lean Management is a method of management and work organisation designed to improve a company’s performance and, more specifically, the quality and profitability of its production.
Lean Management allows processes to be optimised by reducing non-value added time (unnecessary operations or transport, waiting, overproduction, etc.), which are causes of non-quality and complexity. This method is supported by intensive management involvement, ensuring that employees can work in the best possible conditions. In the end, there are two main objectives: complete customer satisfaction and each employee’s personal success. After all, this method was the inspiration for Lean Logistics, which applies directly to supply chain management.
Lean management is based on a large number of tools. Manutan has chosen to apply the Japanese 5S methodology.
What is the 5S methodology definition?
The 5S in Lean Management consists of optimising the company’s working conditions and environment and improving the efficiency and quality of company processes. It takes its name from the first letter of five Japanese action verbs that summarise the essential tasks that need to be done:
- Sort, remove, dispose of: identify what is needed and what is not needed in the working environment and sort accordingly;
- Set in order: organise items according to their use so that they are easily accessible and identifiable;
- Shine: maintain a clean and well-functioning work environment;
- Standardise: maintain an organised working environment through clear rules and procedures;
- Sustain, respect, be rigorous: ensure that all employees follow established good practices.
The 5S in Lean Management offers many advantages. When implemented correctly, it can drastically reduce waste, misspent time, errors, while improving communication and working conditions in general. The method can be applied to many different areas, such as production, administration, and services.
Discover our selection of workshop furniture to optimise workspaces.
What are the 5S steps in Lean Management?
Although initially made up of five steps, some companies have gradually added a sixth S to the 5S method by integrating the concept of safety at the workstation. In fact, creating a safe and standardised workplace should be part of work management best practices. Let’s find out more about these six steps.
Step 1 – Sort, remove, dispose of
We have selected products that are ideal for helping companies sort, so that items used on a daily basis are within easy reach, and items that are not used, or are rarely used are put away or thrown away.
Marking tape
You must highlight a certain amount of information with floor marking tape in order to secure your work area, as well as demarcate and identify dangerous zones.
Permanent marking
You can use a line marker to create a straight line on the floor. This way you can easily define a pre-set area.
Indoor waste-sorting bin
The indoor waste-sorting bin allows you to quickly identify and sort different types of waste.
Step 2 – Set in order
We offer products to help with tidying, sorting, and organising businesses. Essential items should be easy to find so staff don’t waste time or makes unnecessary trips.
Vision door cabinets
A cabinet with see-through doors helps people to quickly view its contents without the need to open it. This encourages proper storage of your equipment, and reduces unnecessary travel, and the risk of accidents at work.
Workshop cupboards and cabinets
With this type of cabinet, you can hang every tool in an orderly fashion. You can see the contents of your cupboard at a glance. This avoids time-consuming searches for materials.
Container trolley
The container trolley makes it easier to identify and store your various items.
Step 3 – Shine
Manutan’s offer supports customers with keeping their warehouse or workplace clean. This third step of 5S in Lean Management involves finding ways to prevent dirt, dust, and debris from accumulating on the premises.
Cleaning trolley
The cleaning trolley is practical because it is equipped with containers, a broom, a dustpan, and a dustbin, which are necessary resources for cleaning. It is also easily manoeuvrable thanks to its wheels.
Window cleaning equipment
Window cleaning equipment is ideal for cleaning your windows without leaving any marks.
Outdoor waste-sorting bin
It is important to keep the workplace clean, but also to encourage recycling and to quickly distinguish which waste goes in which bin with clear identification.
Step 4 – Standardise
Manutan offers products that support companies in setting standards for their procedures and schedules (to ensure consistency when implementing the first three “S” methods). A visual workplace (including photos and visual checks) can be helpful to ensure that everything stays in the right place. Regularly reviewing the status of your 5S in Lean Management implementation is important. You are therefore advised to create and plan audit checklists.
Consultation station
This form of visual management reinforces compliance thanks to the magnetic display panel that conveys your messages to everyone. Storing regularly used tools and materials on the shelves cuts down unnecessary traffic. These consultation stations are easy to clean and maintain.
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Mobile easel
Thanks to its wheels, this mobile easel is practical, can be easily transported from one room to another and enables you to highlight essential information and visual communication.
Displays frames
These see-through display panels are designed for easy, quick, and clear viewing of all important notes and messages.
Step 5 – Sustain
The Manutan offer includes products that enable the first 4 “S” in the 5S in Lean Management 5S to be maintained. It is important to monitor and control how the measures are implemented so that you get into the habit of them, and then, if necessary, progress by re-following the method.
Display panel
It is important to standardise your processes by highlighting them. And using an interior display panel is one example. This gives you access to information at a single glance. Displays are ideal for important information that every employee needs to have easy access to.
Mobile workstation
Create your own productive workspace with this mobile workstation. It is suitable for a variety of uses and avoids the burden of unnecessary trips. The space-saving design allows for optimal storage without taking up much space.
T-card annual planner
In line with visual management methodology, a magnetic T-card annual planner makes work and decision-making a smooth and obvious process. It is the ultimate planning tool.
Step 6: Safety
There is more and more talk about the sixth step: security. We offer products that clearly identify potential hazards and implement preventive measures to ensure employee safety while working.
Workers should also wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves from hazards that are difficult to control or that cannot be avoided. Please note that the use of PPE should be monitored and learned through training and meetings.
Safety signs
Safety signs are used to designate and clarify certain guidelines and obligations. Their implementation is simple and ensures compliance with the established rules.
Pedestrian barriers
Pedestrian barriers are easy to use as they have ends that attach by extension to a flexible, foldable panel with an important message on it.
Disinfection post
A disinfection post with an antibacterial gel dispenser is essential for protecting employees at all times during their workdays.
Find all our health and safety products.
Once you have applied all the steps from the 5S methodology, you will have a workshop or office that is in line with Lean Management principles. Feel free to ask all employees to think about how to improve their own tasks.
