Increase your productivity with the Japanese 5S method

It is extremely important to act within a regular program at every stage of life, whether in housework or in the office environment, in order to increase productivity. In other words, acting in an uncertain way will bring stress along with chaos, so I think it is useful to proceed step by step.

Today, I would like to talk about a method that can bring success with order and discipline. The 5S method put forward by the Japanese, who are also admired for their working order, represents a way of focusing and thinking to better organize and manage the workspace by eliminating waste. This method, which began to be implemented at Toyota in the early 1960s, is based on the principles of order and cleanliness and focuses on improving the quality of life and making working conditions favorable. It is possible to apply the 5S method, which has been a great success especially for workplaces, in all areas of your life.

Seiri

The first step of this method is decomposition. In other words, it is based on getting rid of things that are not useful. If it hasn't been used for a long time and is no longer functional for you, it's time to remove it from your workspace or your life. You can store things that you think you may rarely need, if you have the space, but they should not be in your working environment to increase productivity. This also prevents clutter.

Seiton

From time to time, you've wasted time because you couldn't find what was where. In order to eliminate this mess, it is necessary to organize things, says the Seiton stage. While minimizing both the loss of time and the stress you will experience while looking for what you lost, paying attention to ergonomic conditions in the organization part is a big plus.

Seiso

For the last three years, the most important thing we have been paying attention to is cleanliness. Seiso focuses on keeping the workspace clean. So it won't be a step you will have much difficulty with. The maintenance and cleaning of the items or tools we use is also important in terms of extending their life. It's also not very productive to work in a messy environment, so it's important to make sure to clean the workspace frequently, both at work and at home.

Seiketsu

We have sorted, organized and kept the space clean. What do you think is left? To maintain this continuity by creating a standard for both organization and processes... In other words, it is necessary to establish a program by addressing the first three S's here. The standards that are established here can include programs, schedules, charts and lists.

Shitsuke

Whatever the job, discipline is necessary to achieve success. Shitsuke, along with the other 4 stages, represents discipline for a sustainable working environment. It is precisely at this stage that the continuity of the work, the systematic approach both at the beginning and at the end, and the quality of the result can be achieved.