Enjoy these previews of a new lean training series from our sister site, 360PerformanceCircle.com. The series, Creating and Sustaining Lean Improvements, includes this valuable five video set: 5S : It's Not Just a Tool, It's a Way of Life. The concept of 5S is seemingly so understandable, and yet so difficult to implement effectively. There are many little nuances and tricks of the trade that will make your 5S process more effective and likely to be sustained. This 5S video series will share the specific “how tos” of implementing a 5S process that can be sustained into the future. Rather than offering a theoretical description, we will demonstrate through a real world example how to quickly transform a process area from being disorganized and wasteful, to one that is safe, efficient, effective, and sustainable. The importance of 5S is largely misunderstood and underappreciated as a tool to be used to lay the foundation of a successful lean transformation. As such, top management’s role in rolling out 5S is minimized and delegated to those with lower responsibility because it is perceived to be a tool that does not require top management’s involvement. This is absolutely an incorrect assumption because without top management’s involvement, 5S and many of the benefits of a lean transformation will not be realized. Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” 5S failure is all too common but should not be tolerated; otherwise the entire success of an organization’s lean journey is in jeopardy. Planning is tantamount to the success of any 5S event and must be a high priority. Here’s how to ensure 5S success. Preparing for 5S will help to ensure a successful event. A good SORT will set the tone for the entire event so it is imperative that a strong message is sent to the group that this 5S event will change the way we work and that these changes will begin with a relentless, resolute, and yet respectful, SORT process. Everyone seems to want to jump ahead to the SET IN ORDER step of 5S, before completing SORT. SET IN ORDER is less effective without SORT completion. SET IN ORDER and SHINE go hand in hand and are therefore presented here in the same training session. Everything must have its own place, and it must be obvious where that place is so that nothing is missing when it is needed, from cleaning supplies to standards. The goal of SHINE must be to reach a state in which SHINE is not necessary. Without an effective system of standardization and sustainment, the first three S’s are wasted. In order to properly and completely standardize and sustain, management at all levels must be actively involved in accordance with their Leader Standard Work. They must create an environment of discipline, and they themselves must be disciplined to set the example for all supervisors to follow in order to build a foundation for the success of the rest of the lean journey. You can find these videos on 360PerformanceCircle.com's site, here: www.360performancecircle.com/product/category/13/1… In this series, you'll learn: Why Top Management’s Involvement is Crucial to 5S Success What is 5S and What are its Benefits? What is the Purpose of 5S? What is it Not Meant To Do? 5S’s Role in a Business Management System Top Manager’s Responsibilities in Ensuring Effective 5S 5S As A Way of Life How top management can show commitment to the event What training is necessary before the event? How to define the scope of the event Physical and logistical needs 5S event job roles and responsibilities How to conduct a 5S pre-audit The Three R’s of a good sorter The relationship between all of the S's in 5S Description of SET IN ORDER How layout of the overall work area impacts SET IN ORDER How the layout of the immediate work area impacts SET IN ORDER The transition from SET IN ORDER to SHINE The process of SHINE The benefits of SHINE A summary of actions to perform SHINE properly The meaning of 3S + 2S = 5S Why STANDARDIZING is so important What to STANDARDIZE How to SUSTAIN The 5S Challenge