5S Kaizen Event
Led a 5S Kaizen event to reorganize the maintenance spare parts and tooling area, removing 9+ scrap bins and 3 outdated cabinets and reclaiming 540 sq ft of floor space.
Overview
The maintenance spare parts area had no standardized system, so I led a two-day 5S event (a lean manufacturing method for organizing a workspace) that reclaimed 540 square feet, creating the space where Command Center's display now runs.
The challenge
No standardized location system was in place. Overstock, packaging, and scrap piled up over time. Technicians regularly lost time locating the right part or tool.
What I did
- 1
Built the team & charter
Assembled a 9-person cross-functional team and drafted the event charter, splitting the group into focused sorting stations with subject-matter leads at each.
- 2
Day 1: sort and clear
Set up 5 sorting stations by category: electrical, mechanical, pneumatics, hydraulics, and scrap. Cleared 2 outdated cabinets of accumulated junk.
- 3
Day 2: finish and organize
Cleared the remaining cabinet and scrap, wrapping up ahead of schedule.
- 4
Took inventory
Counted and logged 1,830 items to support accurate ordering and long-term tracking.
- 5
Prioritized speed over polish
Focused on getting parts into a working system quickly rather than building a perfect one from day one.
Impact
540 sq ft
Floor space reclaimed.
9+
Trash/scrap bins removed.
3
Outdated cabinets removed.
1,830
Items inventoried.
9
Person cross-functional team.
2 days
Event duration.