Implementation of 5S in a Mechanical Workshop at University of Johannesburg: A case study

The 5S technique is a powerful and effective lean improvement tool which can be applied to any organization to reduce waste, increase efficiency, and organize the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to report on the research work conducted on implementation of 5S technique in a Mechanical Engineering workshop at University of Johannesburg with an aim to improve efficiency, quality and productivity; reduce abnormalities and wastages; and enhance overall performance. In a case study where unorganized arrangement of everything such as improper storage form, misplaced and incorrectly stored tools, and haphazard placement of unnecessary equipment and materials, the 5S technique has been implemented. A time study and work measurement techniques were used to measure how long it takes to look for a single item before and after implementation to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation. This case study makes use of pictures from before and after implementation of the Ss, observations of time interval for searching a single tool using time study, as they relate to workplace organization and efficiency respectively. Increased efficiency and productivity, organized workplace, and elimination of abnormalities resulted as major outcomes of the implementation of 5S in this study.