Page 52 - Occupational Health & Safety, October 2019

LABELING
OptimizingF5S with Durable Labels
BY TINA HUFF
or facility operations managers, starting a become torn or otherwise unreadable, which is a par- 5S lean manufacturing program can reduce ticular problem with barcode labels.
waste and optimize productivity through bet- During inspection, it’s good to replace any dam- ter workplace organization. With each “S” ac- aged or inaccurate labels. Also, keep track of machine
counting for a separate 5S stage, the process can seem intimidating, but does not need to be.
Sort
The first 5S stage, Sort, removes clutter and unneeded items from the work area. This leaves just the parts, tools, machines, and supplies necessary for daily use on the manufacturing or warehouse floor. In this stage, temporary labels can be put on items as the fa- cility’s staff sorts through them.
Designated areas for sorting could include: Leave, Relocate, Dispose/Recycle or TBD (to be deter- mined). “Leave” is for items that can stay where they are with no changes needed. “Relocate” is for any item that needs a new home because it is more logical or ef- ficient. “Dispose/Recycle” applies to unneeded items that can be discarded or recycled. “TBD” is for items that you are not sure of yet.
If you haven’t used it in that time, consider discard- ing it. For best results, be sure to use labels that won’t fall off during the Sort stage, yet don’t cause damage or leave behind residue when you need to remove them.
Set in Order
The second stage, Set in order, locates parts, people, tools and equipment in the most efficient, ergonomic positions, so operators do not waste time or effort searching for needed items.
To improve workplace efficiency, identification labels can be integrated to identify and classify parts, tools and equipment, so items are easy to find and ev- erything has a home. Racks, shelves and cabinets also make sense to label, as do smaller portable items like bins, totes and toolboxes, which help with organization.
Color coding labels can add another level of orga- nization to items. With labels that are printed on a la- ser or inkjet printer, it’s easy to include color, icons or even photos on labels. This makes it easier to quickly identify items and determine where they belong.
For larger facilities, adding barcodes to labels can further improve efficiency because scanning a bar- code is much faster than manual entry. This is vital for activities like inventory counts or pulling orders.
Shine
The third stage, Shine, ensures the workplace stays free of clutter, grime and malfunction. This helps to prevent serious work breakdowns or slowdowns. In this process, cleaning and inspecting through clean- ing is critical. However, labels that are not durable can
maintenance with inspection labels so routine main- tenance isn’t forgotten. This helps to prevent costly downtime and improve safety by reducing malfunc- tion related accidents. Make sure there is a process in place so whoever is responsible knows which ma- chines they need to inspect, and how often. A good inspection label will include areas for marking the date and person who conducted the inspection.
Standardize
The fourth stage, Standardize, systematizes the most efficient work methods with clear standards. Utilizing schedules, checklists and standard operating proce- dures are a key part of this process.
Without standard operating procedures and clear processes, a facility will not run consistently and smoothly, even if everything is labeled accurately. Wherever possible, it is helpful to put procedures and checklists on labels posted near work areas.
Placing labels on work area equipment provides employees with a recurrent reminder of standard operating procedures. This is especially critical for reminders or instructions, since labels are less likely than sheets of paper to get lost or damaged.
Sustain
The fifth stage, Sustain, trains and maintains company standards and procedures until they become a habit and are consistently followed. Because 5S is a continu- ous process, however, organizations will reorganize or improve processes throughout the year, as well as ac- commodate changes in data, format and regulation.
As such, easily removing old labels and printing custom, updated ones can be important. Industrial la- bels used for signage and identification must be more durable than those used in an office, but should re- move cleanly when they need to come down. The key to accomplishing this was developing an adhesive that holds well but can be removed when needed. Achiev- ing that balance is harder than it sounds.
With all the equipment, supplies, racks etc. used in industrial settings, the ability to conveniently print new 5S sign and identification labels in minutes, while being able to cleanly remove the old, will go a long way toward keeping facilities efficiently up to date without the hassle, mess or cost.
Tina Huff is the Group Product Manager for Avery Industrial Solutions, a division of the Avery Products Corporation.
48 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2019
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