Where do i get the best info on implementing 5s

Hello Mark,

I have been practicing and implementing 5S in operations for almost 30 years - having first been introduced to the process during 9 years working in the Far East.

There are many publications on the subject and the "5 Pilliars of the Visual Workplace" by Hiroyuki Hirano (Productivity Press) is as good as any and probably better than most.

Sadly, as with the others, all it will provide is the "mechanics" of implementing 5S and not the all important education on why many Western companies do their usual fan-fare and flurry, only to see it (along with their continuous improvement programmes etc.) dying a death a year later with very little return on investment.

With 30 years of hands-on Senior experience behind me, I am now a freelance management consultant with a strong focus on operational excellence - and more importantly - how to sustain it. If I may be presumptious in giving advice, it would be - don't go down the 5S route with an approach that 5S is something that you are going to "do". You have to take the approach that 5S is something that you will "live" at all levels in the organisation. Hence it is not a programme, project or initiative because by definition they all have starts and ends. 5S must be addressed as a way of life for it to succeed.  In fact, best not to call it 5S at all - just to avoid the potential "next management flavour of the day" cynicism. 

Sorry if I have provided more info than asked for, but this is a topic dear to my heart and a constant source of frustration when I observe so many failures at implementing what is in reality - simple and good operational management practice. 

Colin Goodrum. CMgr, FCMI