The third step of the 5S methodology is shine. This phase focuses on shining and cleaning everything to spot hidden problems (oil leaks, water drops, etc.).This step honors the 3rd 5S principle “The workplace and its items look brand-new.”
Cleaning is part of everyone’s job in the organization. Operators, for instance, are the most knowledgeable on how to clean the machinery they regularly use. No job is complete unless the items used for the job are put away in their proper places, cleaned and ready to use. If you used a saw, clean the debris before shifting to another task. If you used a cup, or a plate, clean it. If you use a board, take a picture of the important content written, and clean it before leaving the room.
For instance, the Japanese remove their shoes before entering their homes to prevent contamination from the outside. Even ambulance personnel take their shoes before seeing an urgent care patient.
Cleaning is not just a matter of image; it is a matter of good communication. You can detect errors easily!
Looking brand-new
Shine is all about making the workplace and the items inside look brand-new. It doesn’t mean that you need to buy all new items to be able to implement 5S right away. On the contrary, it means that you want to clean and repair all the issues to get back to how they looked when you just bought them. Set this state as the starting point or standard, to take care of them in every single use.
In a company I visited, there used to be a carpet on the floor. It has never been removed before to clean the floor, even though it was small. When it was removed for the first time when we were doing 5S, there was a mark on the floor around it, that couldn’t be removed with basic cleaning products. Through time, the floor had gotten damaged. Neither the surface nor the carpet looked brand-new. What would it take to make them shine again? Should you replace them? Should you clean them?
Some other items may be more expensive to replace, like a lab grinder/polisher. Should you send them to a supplier to repair them? Should you paint them?
How you plan the shine phase depends on:
- How critical is the item: is the product quality affected by this item?
- How expensive is the item: can you still use it as is? It may not meet the 5S standards but the team agrees this is not a good time to invest in improving it.
- How the item is working: even if it doesn’t look brand-new, is it still working properly?
- How much do you want to spend: you can spend on time to repair and clean it, or you can pay to fix it? Is it something that can be done within the budget? Can the employees do it? Do you need specific expertise? How much time do you need? How much time can the item be down? Can you replace it in the meantime?
Hence, there are many ways to decide how to accomplish shine. It is mainly up to the team to decide what is desired vs. what is required.
Every small little area that is not shining can be the root cause of a more significant issue in the future. Would you like to go to a restaurant where the cook or the waiters look dirty? Would you like to see a doctor stained with blood? It is part of the job to work in such a way that things don’t get dirty.
Do not get dirty in the first place!
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