5S/Visual Controls for Health Care

Nurses, are you constantly searching and looking for equipment, supplies, etc?
Is the only form of communication in your work area verbal?
Do items move from place to place?

This workshop offers you an opportunity to experience the 5S System which can help eliminate the issues mentioned above by reducing waste and improving efficiencies in the health care industry. Participants learn the concepts of the 5S System and Visual Controls and how the two go hand in hand to improve communication, reduce searching times, and solve other problems that cause systems and processes to be less efficient and user friendly.

After the classroom portion is finished, the group will go into an area, do a Gemba walk, perform a 5S audit and discuss a plan of implementation. This day long course may be paired with a multi-day 5S/visual control kiazen event.

These simple tools now can used by anyone on staff. These tools are quick and simple to implement, but have very powerful results when sustained.

Improve efficiency by reducing search times for items
Improve quality
Achieve work standardization
Improve safety
Reduce storage space
Boost employee morale and improve work environment
Improve communication

Topics Covered Include:

The 5S System is a series of activities designed to improve workplace. These activities include:
Sort through all items and remove unneeded items
Set in Order remaining items, set limits, create temporary location indicators
Shine or clean everything and use cleaning as inspection
Standardize the first 3 S's by implementing visual displays and controls
Sustain the gains through self-discipline, training, communication, and total employee involvement

Visual Controls-Simple signals that provide an immediate understanding of a situation or condition. They are efficient, self regulating, and worker managed.