A Workplace That Works
for the People in It.
5S is the foundation of a well-organised, efficient workplace. Our 5S audit gives you an objective, structured assessment of how your workplace measures up — and a clear, prioritised action plan to improve it permanently.
The Foundation of Lean Workplace Organisation
5S is a systematic method for organising a workplace so that it is clean, efficient and safe. Originating in the Toyota Production System, it is one of the most widely applied Lean tools — and one of the most frequently implemented poorly.
The five steps — Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain — are deceptively simple. The discipline to sustain them is where most organisations fall short. Our 5S audit assesses where you are across all five steps and gives you a structured plan to get to where you should be.
A well-implemented 5S program reduces waste, improves safety, shortens lead times and creates a workplace that people are proud to work in.
Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardise, Sustain
Each step builds on the last. Skipping steps — or implementing them superficially — is why most 5S programs fail to deliver lasting results.
1. Sort (Seiri)
Remove everything from the workplace that is not needed for current operations. Red-tag items that are unnecessary. Eliminate clutter that hides problems and slows work down.
2. Set in Order (Seiton)
A place for everything and everything in its place. Tools, materials and equipment positioned for efficient use, clearly labelled and easy to find and return.
3. Shine (Seiso)
Clean the workplace thoroughly and keep it clean. Cleaning is inspection — it reveals leaks, damage, wear and equipment issues before they become failures.
4. Standardise (Seiketsu)
Document the standards for each of the first three steps. Create visual controls, checklists and procedures so that everyone knows what good looks like — and how to maintain it.
5. Sustain (Shitsuke)
The hardest step. Auditing, training and discipline to maintain the standards over time. Without Sustain, the first four steps slowly erode. This is where our audit support is most valuable.
Visual sweep
A quick daily or weekly visual check of the workplace against defined standards. Takes minutes. Catches slippage early before it becomes entrenched. We help you set this up.
Because Good Intentions Are Not Enough
Most organisations that attempt 5S do it without an objective assessment of where they are starting from or a structured plan to get where they need to be.
Objective baseline
An independent assessment of where you actually are, not where you think you are. The starting point for all improvement.
Prioritised actions
Not all 5S gaps are equal. We identify which issues are costing you most and sequence improvements to generate maximum return.
Accountability
Actions assigned to responsible persons with due dates. Regular audit cycles create accountability and prevent backsliding.
ISO alignment
5S supports the operational control, workplace safety and continual improvement requirements of ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
How We Conduct a 5S Audit
Objective, structured and carried out with involvement from your team — because the people doing the work know the workplace best.
Workplace walk-through
A structured inspection of your workplace against a comprehensive 5S audit checklist. Every area assessed consistently using the same criteria.
Photography & evidence
Photographic evidence of findings makes the audit report immediately understandable and provides a baseline for future comparison.
Team involvement
We involve your people in the audit process — building awareness and ownership of the outcomes rather than imposing findings from outside.
Scored assessment
Each area scored against defined criteria for each of the five steps. Scores provide a trackable baseline for measuring improvement over time.
Action plan
Every finding translated into a specific action, assigned to a responsible person with a realistic due date. Ready to implement immediately.
Training & sustaining
We can provide 5S training for your team and set up an ongoing audit program to sustain the gains — including a visual sweep checklist.
Ready to See What a Proper 5S Program Can Do?
A 5S audit is one of the fastest ways to generate visible, tangible improvement in your workplace. Call us to discuss your requirements.
1300 00 IIAU (1300 004 428)