Our next pour turns to a practical entry point: Wocktail #2 — The 5S Twist: Mixing Mastery of 5 Ingredients to Build Excellent Environments. Like Shake, Stir, Serve, Sip, Savour, 5S is bold, accessible and actionable — a gateway practice that paves the way for deeper improvements.
Often overlooked, 5S is one of the most powerful and deceptively simple approaches. While often linked to manufacturing, it’s a driving force across work and life.
At its core, 5S weaves excellence into the fabric of everyday environments. With increased complexity, 5S restores transparency, organization and reliability, one step at a time.
Here’s how (with healthcare examples):
1. Sort: Keep it or Kick It!
Sort is the first step in creating clarity. Imagine walking into a space where everything has a purpose. It means removing unnecessary items, whether physical, digital, or procedural. What remains directly supports the task at hand. If it doesn’t add value, it has no place.
E.g.: Discarding outdated supplies to ensure what is needed remains accessible.
2. Set In Order: Precision not Perfection!
Set in Order is the art and science of knowing exactly where everything belongs. Every item has a home and in moments of urgency, there is no hesitation – only swift action.
E.g.: Defibrillators are in the same place, every time.
3. Shine: Clean Isn’t Enough!
Shine is more than pristine surfaces; it’s a mindset of clean, inspect, and care. It’s about creating environments where safety, vigilance and performance thrive. Everyone owns the responsibility and when the space is taken care of, it in turn enables the work.
E.g.: Sterilized instruments and equipment primed for immediate use.
4. Standardize: Lock It In!
Standardization turns best practices into daily norms, through protocols and visual tools so that excellence isn’t left to chance or personality. It builds reliability, reduces variation, and actually makes improvement continuous. When everyone follows the same playbook, the system runs smoothly.
E.g.: Universal hygiene procedures followed without fail.
5. Sustain: Make it Stick!
Sustain is the hardest and the most important step, turning practice into culture. That means rituals, regular audits, and shared accountability to keep the momentum alive.
E.g.: Medication drawers stocked, labeled and monitored daily.
Why does it matter? Consider the 5Cs:
* With 5S – clarity, consistency, collaboration, control and cost efficiency
* Without 5S – clutter, chaos, confusion, complacency, and complication
But here’s the key: 5S is not a one-time deal. It’s a daily discipline that fuels every other form of operational excellence. Turn everyday madness into everyday magic.