5S Lean Process

1. SORT—Determine items no longer needed.
The staff works as a team to determine what supplies are needed and kept versus what is not needed and thrown out. Think about what is really needed in the room. Store high-use items at the work area, store infrequently used items away from the work area, and dispose of unneeded items.

2. STRAIGHTEN—Create storage to keep items neat, easy to find, and accessible.
Organize supplies in a neat and orderly fashion: making items easier to find and accessible to everyone. Label the item location providing an efficient retrieval process. Searching for an item is a waste of time and money.

3. SHINE—Clean all equipment and cabinets, floors, and bins.
Clean the room from head to toe. Keeping the room clean on a continual basis will help to improve quality and staff satisfaction. A clean and organized room shows effort and quality.

4. STANDARDIZE—Work with clinical staff to reduce the number of duplicate items.
By reducing the number of supplies in the room, staff will be able to find items faster and allow the materials management team to set proper par levels. Remove slow-moving supplies or items that are no longer relevant to the department.

5. SUSTAIN—Reevaluate the room weekly/monthly/biannually.
Continually work to keep the room in order and up to date. Work on other rooms and areas as needed. 5S should become part of your normal process. It is not meant to be a one-time event.