The third S, in 5S, is commonly referred to as shine.
A more accurate translation of the original Japanese word – seisou – is probably scrub or sweep. But shine works as well.
Missing the Point
But here’s the thing. Most people completely miss what this 3rd S is all about. Many seem to think it’s all about sweeping up the dirt and perhaps even getting on our hands and knees to scrub the floor. And it is to some extent. But it’s so much more.
Clean to Inspect
The proper approach, when focusing on this 3rd S, is to not only thoroughly clean the area… it’s also to understand why it’s dirty in the first place.
In other words, we should clean to inspect. We should clean in such a way as to identify the source of the grime so we can eliminate it.
For example, if we’re cleaning oil off the floor we must find out why it got there. Simply cleaning it and not fixing the problem that created the spill or leak is pointless.
What do you think?
What do you think? Do you agree with my synopsis? Have you ever identified problem areas while scrubbing and cleaning?
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I was washing my wife’s car this weekend and noticed the tires were getting old. So I got her new tires. Had I not washed the car I may not have known her tires were bald whcih could have been a serious safety issue for her and my children who she drives to school every day.
Excuse my lack of Japanese understanding, but it seems to me that “Standardize” Seiketsu and Shitsuke “Sustain” are really the foundation of a good 5s.
It seems that many of 5s initiatives focus primarily on the other three such as the aforementioned shine. If the shined state is not set as the standard then all that was accomplished was a glorified spring cleaning, which will inevitably occur during or just before the next audit.
If and when there is deviation from the standards that is where we need to find out why (5-why’s) and fix it.
It reminds of this SNL Sketch (about 2 Minutes into the segment)
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-thursday-part-2/742141/
In the sketch Oscar establishes a simple process for fixing problems
1-Identify the problem
2-FIX IT!!!
3-Identify another problem
4-FIX IT!!!!
5-Repeat as necessary until all of the problems are FIXED!!!
Back to the subject at hand, as you standardize the activities of an area the workspace will naturally be sorted and straitened.
With regards to the 6th s would you really standardize an unsafe practice??