How to Keep a Neat Studio

Visitors to our gallery often remark on how neat and clean Mark keeps his studio. Here’s the secret!

Workplace organization—5S

One of the simple tools that I teach in my Lean Six Sigma classes is 5S. The purpose of 5S is to create and maintain a clean, organized workspace. The main benefits of 5S include increased efficiency, safety, and morale. Who doesn’t like a clean environment?

The Five S’s

5S stands for

• Sort—separate things you use all the time from those you rarely use

• Set in order—make a place for everything and put everything in its place

• Shine—clean and scrub the whole area

• Standardize—schedule time every day to keep your workspace neat

• Sustain—keep track of how well you’re doing

The results

When we first implemented 5S in the studio, Mark’s output increased almost 50%. That’s due to being able to move around and find things easily, less searching for lost objects, less moving things around to find the thing you’re looking for, and fewer defects. It gives Mark more time to be creative, and it puts a smile on his face

Stop by the gallery and check out all the great new products made in right here. Because neatness counts!