A case study on organizing a workspace using 5S Technique and LIFO Principle
Corresponding email: kgupta@uj.ac.za
A B S T R A C T
5S Technique is an important tool of Lean manufacturing being utilized worldwide in industrial and service sectors for workspace organization and management. This study successfully applied the 5S methodology alongside the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle to organize a workspace in one of the storerooms of the engineering department of a university. The 5S approach (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain) was utilized to improve space utilization, reduce clutter, and enhance operational efficiency. The LIFO principle was implemented to manage inventory by ensuring the most recently added items were accessed first, preventing obsolescence. Root cause analysis and time study are the other tools utilized in this work. Notable improvements included a 37.4% reduction in retrieval time for frequently used materials and increased consistency in material handling, evidenced by a significant decrease in the coefficient of variation (CV) for retrieval times. The study contributes to practical demonstration of integrating 5S and LIFO in an academic setting, an area often looked in Lean Manufacturing studies. The findings highlight the importance of systematic workplace organisation in reducing waste, enhancing accessibility and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, offering actionable awareness for organisations seeking to optimize operation through lean tools.