Question

Explain how the 5s techniques contributes and facilitates standardized work (SOP) and process flow in a lean production system. Furthermore, you should discuss how this integration (of 5s and standardized work) contributes to decreasing costs by increasing efficiency through the elimination/reduction of waste in lean production systems and how it create stability in lean production systems. (10 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

Five S: Five S is a organization housekeeping standard procedure which uses the Japanese concept of five S i.e. Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and shitsuke. These words translated into English as Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain.

This is the organizational housekeeping standard procedure which helps in developing and maintaining the high standards of house-keeping in the organization.

5s techniques contributes and facilitates standardized work (SOP) and process flow in a lean production system: For a lean production system, the processes are such that they should be lean and does not have unwanted acts/steps. The process contains the value addition steps only and does not contain any non-value addition steps. Thus the 5s technique helps in developing a lean system in the organization specially for housekeeping, as it sort, set in order, shine, standardize and then ensure sustaining of the improvements. Thus we can say that the 5S technique contributes and facilitates the standardize work processes in the organization which finally supports the lean system of the organization. The 5S reduces the waste from the processes and converts into lean processes.

Integration (of 5s and standardized work) contributes to decreasing costs by increasing efficiency through the elimination/reduction of waste in lean production systems: The integration of 5S and standardized work results in improved processes and systems for the organization. Thus it takes towards the lean fundamentals. The lean system and processes ensures that the organization runs on the value addition steps only and does not contain non-value addition steps. Thus removing of non-value addition steps, result in better efficiency for the organization and finally cost optimization. Thus this cost optimization results in cost saving for the organization. Thus the integration of 5S and standardize work result in improved efficiency and cost saving for the organization.

Integration of 5s and standardized work create stability in lean production systems: The stability is being ensured with the help of the integration of 5S and standardize work. Because this 5S focus for improvement in the current system by removing unwanted and non-value addition steps from the processes and systems. Once the system is improved, then 5S focus for sustain of this improvements, so that this can last for longer time/duration. Thus this long term sustain results in stability for the lean production system in the organization.