KaizumiKaizumi™

5S Audit

Sort | Set in Order | Shine | Standardize | Sustain

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What is a 5S Audit?

5S is a workplace organization method from the Toyota Production System. An audit is a structured walk of the area to score how well the five practices are being lived — not just whether a poster is on the wall. Regular audits surface drift before it becomes disorder and give teams a clear, visible scorecard to improve against.

The best audits are done AT the gemba (the actual place where work happens) with the team that works there — not from a desk or from photos.
Audit Info
Scoring Scale
1
Not implemented / major gaps
2
Limited / inconsistent
3
Partial / in progress
4
Mostly consistent
5
Fully implemented / sustained
Sort(Seiri)
1.Only necessary tools, equipment, and materials are present in the work area
2.All items on floor, benches, and shelves are in use or needed for current work
3.Obsolete, broken, or redundant items have been tagged and removed
4.Personal items are limited and stored in designated areas
5.Work-in-progress inventory does not exceed defined maximum levels
Set in Order(Seiton)
1.All tools and equipment have designated, clearly labeled storage locations
2.Frequently used items are positioned within easy reach at point of use
3.Floor markings clearly indicate aisles, work zones, and storage areas
4.Visual indicators (shadow boards, outlines) show where items belong
5.Items are stored in a way that makes missing items immediately obvious
Shine(Seiso)
1.Floors, walls, and surfaces are clean and free of debris, dust, and spills
2.Equipment is clean and free of oil, grease, and contamination
3.Cleaning tools and supplies are available, in good condition, and stored properly
4.Cleaning responsibilities are assigned with clear schedules
5.Sources of dirt and contamination have been identified and addressed
Standardize(Seiketsu)
1.Visual standards (photos, diagrams) show the expected state of the work area
2.5S procedures are documented and accessible to all team members
3.Color coding is used consistently for tools, containers, and zones
4.Checklists and schedules for sort, set, and shine activities are in use
5.Abnormal conditions are easy to spot against the standard
Sustain(Shitsuke)
1.5S audits are conducted regularly (weekly or per established cadence)
2.Audit results are posted and tracked over time
3.Team members are trained on 5S principles and responsibilities
4.Improvements identified in prior audits have been implemented
5.Leadership actively participates in and recognizes 5S efforts
Score at least one item to see results
Or click Load Example in the toolbar to see a completed audit.

What is a 5S audit?

5S is a workplace organization method from the Toyota Production System. A 5S audit is a structured walk of a work area that scores how well the five practices — Seiri (Sort), Seiton (Set in Order), Seiso (Shine), Seiketsu (Standardize), and Shitsuke (Sustain) — are being lived in the workplace.

Regular audits surface drift before it becomes disorder, give teams a visible scorecard, and build the habit of looking at the workplace with fresh eyes. The real value is not the headline score — it is the gap between what you thought the score was and what you observed. That gap is the improvement opportunity.

When to use this tool

Use this tool at the gemba — the actual place where work happens — not from a desk or from memory. Conduct an audit when launching a new 5S program, on a regular cadence (weekly for new programs, monthly for mature ones) to track drift, after a kaizen event to confirm improvements held, or whenever a team feels their workplace is slipping.

Because 5S is the foundation that makes other lean tools possible, a strong 5S score typically precedes success with standardized work, visual management, and TPM.

Reading the results

The overall score is the average of all scored items on a 0–5 scale. The per-category scores show which of the five S's is strongest and weakest. The radar chart makes the balance visible at a glance — a lopsided shape means the program is uneven, and the weakest S will drag the others down over time. Watch the Sustain score closely; it predicts whether the other gains will hold.

Low-scoring items (1 or 2) appear in the Action Items list with the notes you captured. This is your improvement plan for the next cycle. Pick two or three high-impact items and close them before the next audit rather than trying to fix everything at once.

Related tools

Related reading

  • 5S — the methodology and its origins
  • Kaizen — the continuous improvement mindset behind every audit
  • Gemba — where 5S audits should always be conducted
  • Muda (Waste) — what 5S makes visible and eliminates