Five S is a simple to understand and difficult to implement workplace management. The initiative is equipped with Strategy, Secretariat, communication strategy, managing structure, team formation, books and templates, audits sheets, reward and recognition. In spite there are failure in the initiative, Many implementer commonly blame to culture, leadership commitment, discipline & no motivations as reasons of 5S non-sustenance. Some also criticize on usability of tool, Linkage with productivity, Linkage with other initiatives and disguise as mere cleaning activity or flavor of the month. I have implemented 2S in a unit, which was sustained quite long after my detachment from the unit. The deterioration post detachment made me think about fifth S of sustenance or discipline, It also made curious about real meaning about those Japanese words, translated in English, and representation of 5S Logo. All these points were trigger to know and understand Shitsuke: the sustenance in 5S.
We all are aware about the 5S which is a workplace management having 5 steps like Seiri (sort), Seiton (set in order), Seiso(shine), Seiketsu (standardize ) & Shitsuke(sustain).
All first four are actionable terms where the end results are known but last S is Shitsuke is not activity but bit abstract term.
What does Shitsuke mean
Many of the 5S forums and books, I observed that all 5S names are called in different English nomenclature w.r.t original words of Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu & Shitsuke.
When defining Shitsuke, it has many terminologies such as sustenance, Discipline, Sustain, Self-discipline, self-constraint, Daily use, make a way of life, practice. Each translated word of Shitsuke, echo different meaning in English. Like the Indian word “GURU” which has meaning like leader, Head, teacher, Jupiter, bigger, the one who have control on mind, and the spiritual meaning is ‘the person who direct to a path to enlightening self’. Each meaning of Guru is correct and in appropriate context.
All the books have specified that ‘Shitsuke’ play an indispensable role for the other 4S’s necessary condition. However many books also specified that the Shitsuke is not a last S but it has to practice from start of 1S.
Here is a representation of Shitsuke.
Word Shitsuke is a combination of two = “Body self” & “Sole “
The kanji (A system for writing Japanese using adapted Chinese characters) to represent verb and adjective endings has following meeting meaning of Shitsuke which give less common meaning of attitude of and dressing neatly.
- Planting rice seedlings in correct vertical and horizontal lines,
- Stitching together a new Kimino (Japanesse Suite)
- Shitsuke-ito is the fine weak thread used for the stitching.
However, the Hiragana, The main syllabary for the Japanese language used to represent native Japanese words, including particles has following meaning of Shitsuke :
1 Body self & Sole 2 Childhood training, 3 Sustainability, 4 communication
5 leaders model good behavior, 6 Voluntary self-restrain, 7 common sense.
Dictionary of Folklore Says shitake is ‘The putting into the body of a child the arts of leaving and good manners in order to create one grown up person.
And Hara and Wagatsuma says “The putting into body of a child, the pattern of leaving way of conduct of daily life and a mastery of manners and correct behavior.
The JMA Management center depicts Shitsuke as the nuclei of five S, It is different from other 4S, because it has to do with individual feelings; it’s an abstract phenomena. It is something that is born while enacting the other 4S’s. Things begin and ends with Shitsuke. It means compiling rules and methods and make a habit. It’s an attitude of knitting thread with other 4S.
In short Shitsuke should be interpreted as the efforts /ecosystem which shall create a perfect employee by providing the training similar what we have provided to a child in childhood to align actions (body) as well as thoughts (mind) toward voluntary self-restrain(discipline) which are for long term (sustenance) in everything what s/he does. This has to be done with constantly (everyday) with communicating same message by all parents, relatives (from top to bottom), everyone has to habitual to discipline (model a good behavior), and should be used as common sense in each act or thought. Thus, the Shitsuke becomes tool of behavioral change and it has to be start from day on of 5S launch.
Graphical \Logo representation of 5S:
Various websites & books have shown different Graphical representation Shitsuke in the 5S logos \artwork, as follows.
- The Shitsuke (5th S) is part of ladder and at the top step. This indicates that Shitsuke is can be achieved only after first four steps are completed.
- The Shitsuke (5th S) is at the last piece if pie : This indicates that Shitsuke is something which is done at end.
- The Pie of four S at the nuclei & Shitsuke surrounded with circle: This indicates that the four S are to be achieved at the first and can be supported with Shitsuke.
- The Shitsuke is at nuclei of the circle and all four s part of Pie.
With the definitions and the understanding of word Shitsuke, the appropriate logo or artwork for should be Shitsuke at the nuclei of the circle, and the all four S of Sort, set in order, Shine and standardize should be in a outer pie. This is again a PDCA cycle, so the actions must be repeating, shown circular arrows.
Relevance of Shitsuke with Continuous Improvement Initiatives:
Many of the books translated in English are focusing on process approach of 5S where more focus is given on the 5S steps; audits. Even the tools of measurement of 5S are not scientific; it is merely depend on audit score. The understanding of Audit score as a Output and cultural change as an outcome is missed in process driven approach. None of them talk about Shitsuke (sustenance) in deeper sense of understanding the ‘cultural shift’ to be achieved through 5S is only possible with Shitsuke.
Many of the case if the linkage\usefulness of whole 5S (not sustenance) is established as a basics of continuous improvement initiatives or Lean tools like JIT (Kanban), flow or with TPM. The 5S usability is restricted to creating groundwork. After use of four basics of sort, set in order, shine and standardizes the initiative suggest working on next level tools of the initiative. Thus measuring impact of 5S sustenance becomes difficult and hence sustenance is been neglected. Here are some examples.
- In TQM, QC Circle tackles first problem using the Quality Control Story approach. The first problem chosen should be a simple one (e.g., housekeeping, the 5S concept, or safety) so that the Circle is able to solve it within a short period of time. Solving one problem will often give the members a sense of accomplishment and motivate them to pursue other problems they experience in their work. So the use of 5S is done for outcome of motivation and creating ground for bigger problems.
- The Toyota way book, links 5S with visual control and emphasis on 5S using for tool to make problems visible and can be part of process of visual control of a well-planned lean system. So the outcome is preparing for lean.
- JIPMS book of TPM implementation links 5S with Jishu Hojen for maintenance of area or machine for bringing back basic conditions and creating a mindset of people to taking area and machine to ideal condition. It also emphasize on outcome of how 5S can help for creating continuous improvement mindset.
The user fails to understand that the ‘long term cultural change’ at the workplace level or team level is a crux of 5S sustenance. Implementer shifts the focus immediately from sustenance to next level improvement.
In reality, Shitsuke starts from 1S and create a culture of learning about what is waste (sort), deviation (set in order), remove abnormalities (Shine), maintain flow (standardizes).
Operator learns about ways of removing the waste by using basic quality, and basic lean tools of single piece flow, 8 type of wastes. The teamwork and understanding of process improves. This creates foundation for Continuous improvement.
In those small teams\work place are actually act as a LEAN enterprises at operators work area level (workplace), which removes waste and improves flow. These smaller teams action if multiplied with all departments, it creates enterprise change.
In short, Sustained 5S is a lean for work place and matured LEAN is a 5S of Enterprise.
Use all the terms of Shitsuke from day 1 for 5S sustenance:
It is clear evident that 5S is a base of Long-term cultural change where Shitsuke is DNA of starting change through. Implementers miss the crux of Shitsuke in mere creating templates for audits and measurements. The more and more focus is given on rituals of audits and reporting, the remaining meanings of shitsuke are sidelined and discipline become buzzword of the day. Gemba improvement done by auditors restrain the ownership from the workplace people. Hence each of daily actions of Shitsuke such as habit, training as child, communication, leadership walk the talk, discipline are instrumental for waving the cloth of 5S Flag for the workplace team. which create cultural change and foundation for Continuous improvement. Many of the continuous improvement initiatives can grow in the ecosystem of Shitsuke; in fact, with improved moral, it will enrich the individual and team contribution to all parameters of PQCDS.
Reference:
- 5S(Keys to workplace Management)by JMA Management center INC. Correspondence course book No Fsx 92040404
- TPM New implementation program in fabrication and assembly industries –Edited by Kunio Shirose JIMP
- 5 Pillers of Visual workplace –Hiroyuki Hirano.
- The Toyota way – Jaffrey K Liker.
- 5S in the Japanese workplace - SHITSUKE: Sustaining through discipline (Part 5 or 5), Oct 03, 2011 By Patricia Pringle, Japan Intercultural Consulting , This article originally appeared in Japan Close Up Magazine
- http://www.japanintercultural.com/en/news/default.aspx?newsID=98
- http://www.kanjijapanese.com/en/dictionary-japanese-english/shitsuke
- Becoming Japanese: The World of the Pre-school Child - By Joy Hendry
