Facts

Basically, 5S are nothing extraordinary; no complicated methods, no mathematics, not even the need of a pocket calculator, nor specific skills or know-how.

5S are essentially made of good sense and simple actions, set up in logical order and within a formal frame. These actions end up in simple rules for the area.

TThe rules accepted in a 5S project are very close to what everybody could hear when his or her parents ordered "clean up your room!". They appear after the 5S experience for what they should be; simple rules anybody can and have to follow. So why, the same rules, out of 5S context are scarcely applied?

Analysis

A first bit of an answer is that not everybody has been exposed in his /her youth to the same parent's requirements and same parent's exemplary behaviors. Orderliness, cleanliness and rigor are subjective notions, subject to personal adjustments... The prime reference being the parents themselves. Confronted in latter life to other references, as well as judgement by others, adjustment is sometimes difficult.

Second bit of answer is this type of activity is coined even for adults as "constraint", "obligation", and related to "authority's power", etc. While individual satisfy themselves with their "organisation" and believes in his/her doing well, infringement of tiers is seen as a form of aggression.

Third bit of answer is the lack of communication and "teasing"; neither parents nor hierarchy do "sell" their requirements. Few if any communication about advantages, few or none proofs that required actions will bring the alleged advantages, and last but not least, no communication about individual benefits (less waste of time, less stress, more usable time, etc.). A fourth point to consider is the lack of teamwork creating emulation. 5S projects allow to (re)built a common and shared space in which all actions are decided and done together. Finally, the lack of reference, and above all assessment by others, like during 5S audits, bears a risk to fallback to ancient non-5S habits and practices. A well-done 5S project brings to participants these different elements.

Debriefing 5S workshops

After a significant experience of 5S workshops, the debriefings with participants highlight the following points they appreciate particularly:

• The ability of the 5S trainer or coach to give sense to the whole project. It is crucial for an adult to understand the finality of a project, for him to buy-in, memorize new knowledge and involve himself.

• The help of methodology to "solve problems"; how to?, which steps in which sequence? and above all what methods and practical tools to use to analyze, structure and organize the rollout of the tasks.

• Giving credit and value their results is important, even more when participants have a generally modest role in the organization, the company, the workshop, etc.

What is the least liked part of a workshop: formalization of rules (4th S), quoted "no fun". Apart from the somewhat strange exercise they are not accustomed to (expressing ideas and opinions, summing up, deciding, writing), setting up rules is also an act of involvement from which the participants cannot later escape, as they decided and set up rules in common. This obligation to stick to the rules and behave raises fears, question their limits and good will...

The most frequent obstacles foreseen for the project's future are:

• Lack of time to roll out and carry on actions, to have a constant and consistent practice
• Long term sponsorship from management

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