5S Audits

A 5S audit starts with a defined area and an auditor who understands the agreed scoring scale. The Quality Manager records the scope and planned date. The Inspector then records what was observed under Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardize or Sustain. Each check retains its score and maximum score against the selected audit, so a reviewer can interpret the result in context.

The observation should explain the condition that led to the score. A low result for Set In Order could describe gauges stored away from their marked locations. That wording gives the next shift something concrete to examine. A score alone leaves the reviewer guessing whether the issue concerns storage, labeling or access to equipment.

• Audit scope. The Quality Manager assigns the auditor and defines the area to inspect. Planned, In Progress, Reporting and Closed distinguish preparation from the audit’s reporting work. Closing the audit does not remove the finding history.
• Category evidence. The Inspector submits the selected audit, category and scoring details with the observation. The submission carries evidence to the responsible reviewer. Later corrections retain attributed successor evidence so the original observation remains available.
• Finding ownership. An audit finding records the requirement, finding and severity with an owner and due date. The closure date helps the Quality Manager distinguish a completed response from work still awaiting attention.

Agree how each category is scored before comparing results between areas. A score of 3 against a maximum of 5 means something different from 3 against a maximum of 10. Keep those denominators visible, and decide which audit scopes are comparable. Do not interpret an aggregate as an improvement until the team understands the underlying scoring practice.

Name the person responsible for reviewing submissions and configure Improvement Reviewer access for that responsibility. Decide when an observation warrants a separate finding and who may record its closure. Also agree how the auditor will identify the inspected area in the scope, so repeat visits refer to the same physical work.

Rehearse an audit of a tool bench. The Inspector records Set In Order with a score of 2 against a maximum of 5 and explains that the gauge locations are unclear. The Quality Manager assigns a finding to the person responsible for the bench, with a due date tied to the next operating review.

Have the reviewer trace the observation back to that audit. Then correct an observation through the supported correction path and check that the earlier evidence remains available. Finally, record the finding’s closure date after the response has been checked. The team should be able to explain both the original condition and the work that addressed it.

• 5S Audit Scores — Category scores and their denominators beside the observations that explain them.
• Due Audit Findings — Findings due by today, with closure dates visible for follow-up decisions.
• Active Audits — Planned fieldwork and audits still being conducted or reported.

Use Audit to owned finding to rehearse the visit and follow-up. Improvements can continue through Kaizen proposal to verification.