6S Lean

6S Lean: 5S + Security

6S (also known as 5S + Safety) is a system designed to promote and maintain a high level of productivity and safety throughout the work area. While adhering to the 5S principle of sorting, organising, showing, standardising and maintaining, 6S adds the concept of safety as a method. 6s Lean Manufacturing not only helps companies promote efficient working environments, but also establishes a sustainable safety culture.

The 6 S in 6S Lean

• Sorting (Seiri) - often referred to as "red marking", where items and materials not needed for the work are removed.


• Sorting (Seiton) - this step deals with organising tools, equipment and other items by grouping them according to their function, labelling them and placing them in accessible areas so that workers can easily reach them when needed.

• Shining (Seiso) - includes activities such as cleaning the workplace, maintaining its pleasant appearance and applying preventive measures to keep the work areas clean and tidy.


• Safety - the additional step focused on identifying hazards and establishing preventive controls to ensure the safety of employees when working. Use our digital safety checklist to identify common storage and production hazards.

• Setting Standards (Seiketsu) - is the method of setting a new workplace standard by visual reminders, setting expectations of employee responsibility, and performing routine inspections and regular on-site checks.


• Maintaining (Shitsuke) - the long-term goal and the most difficult step of the 6S method, where standardized procedures must be applied continuously until they become a habit.

Why add "Safety" into the Lean 6s manufacturing method?

Safety should have first priority in any workplace. A safe working environment has a positive effect on productivity and quality assurance. A safe workplace is essential to create a stress-free environment and healthy atmosphere in which all employees feel safe and secure. A clean and organised workplace can also make it easier to identify and control potential hazards.

The first step to safety is to identify the existing and likely hazards at your workplace. All employees should be aware of the many different types of hazards in the workplace and be able to evaluate these hazards through a Risk Assessment or a Health and Safety Analysis (JSA). These presupposed methods are used to implement standard safety procedures and necessary controls to reduce or eliminate these hazards.

It is essential that all workers wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to provide additional protection against hazards that are difficult to control or cannot be eliminated. PPE includes safety helmets, safety goggles, face masks, insulated gloves, non-slip boots etc. The use of a  PPE should be checked, and all safety protocols should be presented to the workers through training and  

It's never an easy task to ensure 100% safety at all times, but by including safety in the original 5S method - and Kaizen - you can help improve working conditions in your company. Not only can your employees concentrate on completing daily tasks, but they can also contribute habitually to general safety in the workplace.

Implementation and testing of the Lean 6s manufacturing method in your workplace

Make your workplace a clean and safe place today with the 6S method! Start downloading our free 5S and 6S audits at Lumiform.

Lumiform gives you the flexibility to perform any inspection you want - anytime, anywhere. Inspect construction sites and restaurants for food safety, perform temperature checks, safety briefings and much more. Lumiform is the ideal mobile solution for audits and inspections in all industries.