Seiso - Cleaning, Inspection & Preventive Maintenance

Seiso is the third step of Five S. Seiso is a Japanese word that translates as cleanliness. In English the words “sweep” or “shine” (regular cleaning) are commonly used as appropriate words beginning with the letter “S”.

Who Cleans?

Once you have everything, from each individual work area up to your entire facility, sorted (cleaned up) and set in order (organized), you need to keep it that way. This requires regular cleaning. This is not just a job for a janitorial staff, everyone should be involved in keeping their work area clean—from the mailroom to the executive suite.

Why Clean?

Dust, dirt, stains, spills and debris hide problems, result in safety hazards, cause accidents and can be toxic. For example, an accumulation of dirt can both hide and cause scratches. A spill, even something as innocent as a coffee spill, can directly cause a slipping hazard and the resulting stain can obscure or cause other problems.

What is Cleaning?

Seiso incorporates three categories of cleaning. The first is an overall cleaning of everything. This usually involves everyone as well as a janitorial staff for the facility. The second involves individual workers and their cleaning of the tools, machines and work areas they use. The third level is the detail level. We’re familiar with “detailing” a car—meaning that every nook, crevice and corner is cleaned. This same type of detailed cleaning applies to the workplace.

While they clean everyone should be asking the question, “Why did this get dirty?” Find the root cause and fix the problem. The result will be that less time needs to be spent on cleaning. Ask questions such as:

Is a filter need to reduce air borne dust?

Is there a leak (lubricant leak for example)?

Is clutter causing dirt to accumulate?

Is the movement of materials, or our storage methods, bringing in dirt?

Cleaning everything at a detailed level may at first appear to require a lot of time. But if you find the causes of “dirtiness” and eliminate them, things will stay clean and less effort will be required.

How?

Use a methodical, standardized approach to cleaning. Use checklists to ensure each cleaning task is done. Use labels, signs, diagrams and charts to provide the information needed for proper cleaning, at the point that information is needed. A while cleaning may seem simple at first glance, ensure that proper training is provided. When someone knows the correct way to clean a machine, tool or work area, they can do a better job in less time.

To ensure everything is cleaned, the facility should be divided into small areas, with a specific person in charge of cleaning each area. Each person should have clearly defined responsibilities for cleaning; be trained in the skills needed; and have the proper cleaning tools, supplies and protective equipment (gloves, goggles, face mask, boots, etc.)

Seiso involves more than just cleaning. It also includes inspection. Regular cleaning makes it easy to spot lubricant leaks, equipment misalignment, breakage, missing tools and low levels of supplies. Minor preventive maintenance should be done during the cleaning process. This way problems are identified and fixed when they are small. If these minor problems are not addressed while small, they could lead to equipment failure, unplanned outages or long - unproductive - waits while new supplies are delivered.

Inspection during cleaning should be proactive. For example, lubricant levels and cleanliness should be checked. Filters should be checked and replaced as needed. Drive belts should be inspected. Don’t just clean, but include an inspection checklist as a part of the regular cleaning schedule.