seiri

Seiri, often translated as Sort, is the first of the five S in the 5S workplace organization method used in lean manufacturing and other industries. It focuses on distinguishing necessary items from unnecessary ones and removing the latter from the work area. The aim is to reduce clutter, speed up work, improve safety, and create space for value-added activities.

Process and approach: Seiri involves examining a workspace, defining criteria for what is needed (such as frequency of use, safety, regulatory requirements, and potential future use), and classifying items accordingly. Items are typically categorized as essential, optional, or unnecessary. A common technique is red tagging, which marks items for reassessment to decide whether they should be kept, relocated, stored, or discarded. The outcome is a streamlined area that supports the next step, Seiton (Set in Order).

Criteria and implementation: Leadership trains staff, conducts regular gemba walks, and establishes standard rules to ensure consistent decisions. Seiri is followed by Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke, forming a cycle of continual improvement.

Benefits and risks: Benefits include reduced search time, improved safety, lower inventory and carrying costs, and increased productivity. Risks include over-removal, misjudging necessity, and difficulty sustaining the practice without ongoing audits and management support.

Examples: In manufacturing, obsolete tools may be removed; in offices, outdated documents and duplicate supplies may be purged. Seiri sets the foundation for a more organized and efficient workplace.