Title: 5S implementation methodologies: literature review and directions

Authors: Jugraj Singh Randhawa; Inderpreet Singh Ahuja

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Global Institute of Management and Emerging Technologies, Amritsar, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala 147001, Punjab, India

Abstract: The objective of the paper is to investigate the process of 5S implementation across all the levels of organisations and highlight the significant contributions of 5S to the organisations. The paper is based on a methodical literature review that inspects how the implementation of 5S technique significantly contributed the progress of different organisations in the term of quality, productivity, effective utilisation of space, safety and employees morale values. The manuscript presents the systematic 5S implementation initiatives implementation methodologies suggested by various researchers and practitioners. The success factors that enrich 5S implementation in the organisation are also identified and discussed progressively. The study also highlights the manufacturing achievements through successful 5S initiatives and obstacles that create hindrance in the path of implementing 5S technique. The paper provides comprehensive outlook of 5S approach to the management for implementing it as way of attaining maintainable performance for their organisations.

Keywords: lean manufacturing; Kaizen; 5S implementation; 5S barriers; 5S success factors; literature review; quality improvement; productivity; space utilisation; safety; employee morale; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2017.080692

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2017 Vol.20 No.1, pp.48 - 74

Received: 09 May 2015
Accepted: 05 Jun 2015
Published online: 04 Dec 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article