Most organizations that want to start on productivity improvement will fare well with implementing 5S. What is 5S? 5S is a productivity tool based on five Japanese words:

1. seiri (sort)

2. seiton (systematize)

3. seiso (sweep or clean)

4. seiketsu (standardize)

5. shitsuke (self-discipline)

The first three S' are action words while the last two are concepts that must be internalized to sustain the 5S culture.