Frequently Asked Questions
As a general rule of thumb, introducing good housekeeping can help reduce mistakes and defects by 50%. Good housekeeping also ensures that the workplace is safe, and that tools, parts and information required for production are available when they are needed.
Within Just-in-Time and Lean Manufacturing philosophies, there are five fundamental aspects of good housekeeping. These are the '5 S's' of good housekeeping, which are:
- 'SORT' - identify things that are absolutely necessary to perform the operation and remove everything else (e.g. remove anything that will not be needed within the next thirty days)
- 'STRAIGHTEN' - provide a convenient, safe and orderly place for everything and keep it there
- 'SCRUB' - keep machines, tools and the working environment clean
- 'SYSTEMATISE' - keep everything clean and orderly by making cleaning and checking a routine
- 'STANDARDISE' - standardise the previous four steps to ensure that the process never ends, and create an atmosphere of continual improvement
For more information, please contact us.
References:
Womack, J.P. and Jones, D.T, Lean Thinking, Simon & Schuster, New York, USA, 1996 (ISBN 0-684-81035-2)