PSI – 5S

Clean Equals Lean

At PSI, we run a tight ship. That’s because study after study has shown that lean manufacturing methods lead to the highest value for customers — and we’re serious about value. In the 1980s, the 5S quality system propelled Japan to the top of the auto-making industry. Today, it helps PSI create cleantech engines for applications around the globe.

Creating a highly organized workspace with 5S keeps defect rates down at PSI and makes our production lines more efficient and flexible. It also improves the safety and satisfaction of workers and reduces waste. All of these lead to higher product quality and lower internal costs, which translate to better value for our customers.

The Five Pillars of 5S

Sort (Seiri) – Eliminate all the things in the workspace that are not being used and store them away.

Set in Place (Seiton) – Arrange the items used on a daily basis so that they can be easily accessed and quickly stored.

Shine (Seiso) – Everything is cleaned and functioning properly.

Standardize (Seiketsu) – Develop a routine for sorting, setting and shining.

Sustain (Shitsuke) – Create a culture that follows the steps on a daily basis.