Standardize
Standardize is the fourth stage in the 5S process. The goal of Standardize is to establish standards and create guides that will help maintain the improvements of prior stages.
Plan
Standardize results in the creation of standard operating procedures(SOPs). SOPs allow for a company to reduce variability, and thereby make it easier to identify when problems occur. A unique aspect of SOPs in a Lean context is that graphics are emphasized more than plain-text manuals. A couple examples of graphical aids:
| Tool | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Charts | For large storerooms, it will be necessary to have a consolidated board that shows the status of all items they contain. Use colored markers or stickers to indicate when an item is in use, missing, or out of stock. These charts make stockroom checks instantaneous. |
| Process Guide | Process guides are simple one-page guides to various processes around the workplace. There should be very few words, relying more heavily on pictures to explain the necessary steps involved. |
Do
For each important process, create a process guide. For example, you can create a step-by-step guide to help maintain the Shine standards established in a particular area. Additionally, this time can be used to create process guides for standard processes that future employees will need to learn.
The combination of images and words results in a guide that is easier to understand and more likely to be used.
Check
After all of your charts and process guides are created, review them to ensure that they are effective. It may take a few weeks of running the new SOPs to identify steps that are missing or unnecessary.
Act
If a particular process guide or chart is not being used, investigate and make the necessary changes. The goal of 5S is not to over-document or over-complicate processes, but to make information that is needed on a daily basis more explicit. When your team is satisfied with the results of the Standardize stage, it is time to move on to Sustain, the final stage.