What I learnt from three years of 5S
Came across a blog from someone in acjc 2 years my junior. he embedded a music video in his post of a song called 'rainy day' by Stefanie Sun
http://freedomgundam-kradcal.blogspot.com/2006/10/mv-sharing-session.html
i quite like the simple music video.
In 2006, the same time he was blogging and taking his 'A' levels, I was in the army.
One of the biggest things in the army is area cleaning. Our schedule on a typical non-outfield day looks like this;
0500 Rollcall
0505 5BX, sometimes including a 2 click run
0515-0545 Breakfast
(this timing was staggered between companies to prevent the cookhouse/chow hall/mess from being crowded)
0600 Area Cleaning
0630 Area inspections
0700 Training - or outfield exercises
(can range from anything from physical training to lectures on how to handle your weapon, tactics or topographical navigation, if it's a lecture, it tends to be later at 0800 or 0900 because the instructors, who were part the regular army and higher ranked, seldom wanted to be at camp starting the lesson 0700, which gave us a B.E.A.utiful 1-2 hour nap after area cleaning and bunk inspections)
Because of our strict adherence to some variance of this regimental schedule, many army boys (or army men*) were conditioned to wake up automatically at 5 am out of habit after 2 years of strict drilling this 0500
Area cleaning was the one skill that transitioned well into all parts of my life, whether it be being a home owner and taking care of upkeep in mowing, clearing branches, drainage gutters, etc... or in working life where keeping one's area clean is a part being an effective worker.
This can be as simple as organizing your work space tables, grabbing a broom and sweeping up a mess that you may not be responsible for, or even arranging stationary and papers at shared common areas. Apparently, cluttered work spaces affects our ability to function efficiently.
https://unclutterer.com/2011/03/29/scientists-find-physical-clutter-negatively-affects-your-ability-to-focus-process-information/
http://lifehacker.com/how-clutter-affects-your-brain-and-what-you-can-do-abo-662647035
Although I do not have statistical evidence on how much more effective my colleagues and I have been since we re-introduced (for the umteenth time this decade; the popularity of 5S and 6 sigma lean programs come and go with changes in management and management priorities biannually), it is undeniable that our numbers are through the roof.
Ever since 5S has been reintroduced, our company work output has gone up about 20-30%, with substantially increased statistics in KPI's. Simple organizing, cleaning, painting,..etc. to keep the work space neater has no obvious correlation to workplace machines, and doesn't appear to directly affect the product, but the people are able to work better (something every boss would want, I think).
Thus, I'm now a believer *although not quite a corporate shill, yet* in 5S. I have seen the numbers, and they are scary real when the workers 'buy into' the 5S ideas, as well as when management takes ownership of the program and leads by example instead of treating it as yet another corporate memo to comply with.
That said, other work places I've been at experience less success with 5S. Who knows, maybe the people at my current work place are special. I mean, what are the parts that make up a company; the people, the management, the brand name, and the business practice.
The essential ingredient that affects all critical success/failures, is the people.
http://freedomgundam-kradcal.blogspot.com/2006/10/mv-sharing-session.html
i quite like the simple music video.
In 2006, the same time he was blogging and taking his 'A' levels, I was in the army.
One of the biggest things in the army is area cleaning. Our schedule on a typical non-outfield day looks like this;
0500 Rollcall
0505 5BX, sometimes including a 2 click run
0515-0545 Breakfast
(this timing was staggered between companies to prevent the cookhouse/chow hall/mess from being crowded)
0600 Area Cleaning
0630 Area inspections
0700 Training - or outfield exercises
(can range from anything from physical training to lectures on how to handle your weapon, tactics or topographical navigation, if it's a lecture, it tends to be later at 0800 or 0900 because the instructors, who were part the regular army and higher ranked, seldom wanted to be at camp starting the lesson 0700, which gave us a B.E.A.utiful 1-2 hour nap after area cleaning and bunk inspections)
Because of our strict adherence to some variance of this regimental schedule, many army boys (or army men*) were conditioned to wake up automatically at 5 am out of habit after 2 years of strict drilling this 0500
Area cleaning was the one skill that transitioned well into all parts of my life, whether it be being a home owner and taking care of upkeep in mowing, clearing branches, drainage gutters, etc... or in working life where keeping one's area clean is a part being an effective worker.
This can be as simple as organizing your work space tables, grabbing a broom and sweeping up a mess that you may not be responsible for, or even arranging stationary and papers at shared common areas. Apparently, cluttered work spaces affects our ability to function efficiently.
https://unclutterer.com/2011/03/29/scientists-find-physical-clutter-negatively-affects-your-ability-to-focus-process-information/
http://lifehacker.com/how-clutter-affects-your-brain-and-what-you-can-do-abo-662647035
Although I do not have statistical evidence on how much more effective my colleagues and I have been since we re-introduced (for the umteenth time this decade; the popularity of 5S and 6 sigma lean programs come and go with changes in management and management priorities biannually), it is undeniable that our numbers are through the roof.
Ever since 5S has been reintroduced, our company work output has gone up about 20-30%, with substantially increased statistics in KPI's. Simple organizing, cleaning, painting,..etc. to keep the work space neater has no obvious correlation to workplace machines, and doesn't appear to directly affect the product, but the people are able to work better (something every boss would want, I think).
Thus, I'm now a believer *although not quite a corporate shill, yet* in 5S. I have seen the numbers, and they are scary real when the workers 'buy into' the 5S ideas, as well as when management takes ownership of the program and leads by example instead of treating it as yet another corporate memo to comply with.
That said, other work places I've been at experience less success with 5S. Who knows, maybe the people at my current work place are special. I mean, what are the parts that make up a company; the people, the management, the brand name, and the business practice.
The essential ingredient that affects all critical success/failures, is the people.
Comments
Post a Comment