THE CHALLENGE AND ART OF IMPLEMENTING 5S IN INDUSTRIES: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Abstract

It is known that the end of the Second World War brought numerous challenges to the combatant countries. Japan, specifically, had its economy weakened, which resulted in a crisis. Seeking alternatives for the reestablishment of the State, the country found in the industry a means of rationalizing inputs and applying philosophies, which in addition to helping the country economically, is also a source of studies and practical applications. In this sense, the objective of this work was to address the origin and application of the 5S industrial philosophy, seeking to understand how such a tool can contribute to the increase of the operational efficiency of the industry at the time. The methodology used was the bibliographic review, using articles from different themes of applications of 5S and other philosophies. The results indicate that the application of the philosophy brings, among other benefits, efficiency in cost reduction, in addition to making the environment systematized and organized for better use of employees. Finally, it is considered essential to continue new studies on the practical application of the 5S philosophy as a way to increase the visibility of this tool, which was a precursor in the industrial reestablishment and in ensuring the continuity of several Japanese industries.