A 5S opportunity long overdue!
SORT
How much time has been spent sifting through the pile looking for the correct wrench? It is time to sort! Sorting is simply the act of identifying what is actually needed at the worksite.
SWEEP
When sorted, it turned out there were more duplicates than individual sizes! Now to sweep, this simply when everything else is removed, relocated, recycled or simply refuse. (organizing).
SCRUB
Once you have isolated only the tools that are necessary it’s time to scrub. No one wants to pick up a slimy tool. Cleaning the grease and grime from the cracks and crevices reduces the likelihood of the wrench slipping off or stripping the head of a bolt. However, in lean, scrub means a lot more than just cleaning, it’s also about maintaining. Keeping tools and equipment in peak operating condition reduces down-time and increases quality.
SYSTEMIZE
Clean tools now have a home, time to establish a system. About 30 minutes with a scroll saw provides a standard location for each wrench. When glued together these two 1/4″ plywood pieces will serve as a tool tray to take to the job location. Establishing this system provides the framework necessary for the last and most important S of the 5S’s.
STANDARDIZE
Standardizing is about establishing the rules that are followed to maintain your system of organization. This is necessary if you are going to sustain the improvements that have been implemented.
….so far so good!
Update: Ever get the dreaded question during a job interview; what is your greatest weakness? For me, this answer has always been easy. Disorganization! I am a multiple time graduate of the Franklin-Covey Time Management course. The longest it lasted was about 4 weeks. My garage, my desks in school and life, even my wallet has been disorganized, historically.
Because of this weakness, I was hesitant to publish this post. It has now been over 8 weeks since I 5S’d my wrenches. So far…. so good still. But the most interesting observation has been: I still was not always returning the wrenches immediately. I often still leave them where they were used, initiating a cycle of clutter. However, within hours, I see the empty slot in the drawer and I cannot help but search out the missing tool to return it.
