Seiketsu or Standardize. A standard of cleanliness. Previously the basis of 5S is complete, you have complete the whole course of what is needed to have a good system which is minimalist (only have the item needed in your place), fully arranged (with the least amount of waste) and looking great (a perfect schedule for cleaning, lubrication and re-tightening). However, those are not enough if you only did that for a small space within your domain. The idea is to standardize across your whole space room to room, office to office and house to how.
Ever wonder why we are comfortable with chain hotels and restaurant. It is not because their bed are great and perfect or their food tastes our of the roof, it just that we know what to expect. We know their standard and we are happy with their standard. For example, McDonald’srestaurant will look the same, feels the same and hey their burgers will taste the same every where you go across the globe. Somehow, although we want to be individual and personal when it comes to our behaviour and taste, we crave standardization, commonality and predictability. In essence, we want to be safe and in control, and standard gives us that feeling, that serene and tranquil feeling that we long for.
So, how do we ensure something is standardardized?
By creating one. McDonald’s create a standard for all their restaurant across the globe. Why can’t you create one for yourself? For your space? For the place that makes you happy? So the main take away for this standardize is to have a standard, monitor a standard and adhere to a standard. But, all standard need to be developed by you. I could suggest a standard, but there is no point is using other standard is you are not able to follow, monitor and adhere to them.
This may take sometime, but it is definitely worth it once you complete the whole process.
If you can’t see, you don’t know and if you don’t know you can’t control
SBAH
Can you see the deviation above clearly? If you can then we have done our job. The main idea for standardization is to make EVERY DeVIATION easily detectable. So that you can take action about it.