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Sometimes to understand what something is, it helps to know where it came from. This article describes the origin of the business technique known as 5S.

It is not surprising that 5S, a method for organizing a workplace floor, originated in Japan. Foreigners who visit Japan are often struck by how tidy and efficient everything is . There is no litter in the streets, people line up for buses in neat queues, and there are visual aids everywhere to provide directions and information. The culture itself seems to reflect a respect for orderliness.

What is 5S? The name comes from five Japanese words that all happen to begin with “s” sounds: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. The English translations of these words help shed light on the purpose of the 5S method:

Organization, in the present context, means sorting items and storing away those that are not currently needed.

Orderliness refers to putting items where they are easy to use and labeling them so it is clear where to find them and where to return them so others can find them.

Cleanliness is a simple step that means sweeping floors, wiping down equipment, and so forth.

Standardization involves developing ways to maintain the gains a