5S is a set of 5 Japanese terminologies; each one of them states a very practical and important golden principle. Almost all Japanese firms follow these principles in order to achieve maximum amount of efficiency in their work.
Japanese Term English Equivalent
Seiri Tidiness
Seiton Orderliness
Seiso Cleanliness
Seiketsu Standardization
Shitsuki Discipline
A brief detail of each follows:
1. SEIRI
The first step of the ‘5-S’ process, Seiri, refers to the act of discarding all unwanted, unnecessary, and unrelated materials from any place of concern. It could be the workplace or home or even a town.
This principle should be ingrained in the mindset of a true Muslim. The Holy Quran mentions this in 17:27 and 7:31
· The Holy Quran Instructs: [2:219] “They ask thee how much they are to spend in the way of Allah; Say: ‘What is beyond your needs.’
2. SEITON
‘Seiton,’ means orderliness, which is all about efficiency. This golden principle relates with putting everything in an assigned place so that it can be accessed or retrieved quickly, as well as returned to that same place without delays.
3. SEISO
Seiso consists of cleaning up the workplace and giving it a ‘shine.’ Cleaning must be done by everyone in the organization, from operators to managers. Seiso cannot be achieved without having mutual respect for everyone and an atmosphere of brotherhood. Furthermore, it also requires an intrinsic desire and motivation for cleanliness.
The Holy Quran understands the importance of cleanliness and instructs its believers to keep themselves clean at all times.
· The entire system of Salat (Prayer) is a perfect example and an exercise to ensure that Muslims obey and follow this golden rule at least five times a day, every day, throughout their lives. A Muslim offers his Salat in a Masjid behind an Imam. He first performs ablution which not only purifies him physically but also spiritually. He then stands shoulder-to- shoulder with his brothers irrespective of any social and economic status behind an Imam, and follows his instructions.
· Similar should be the scenario in a workplace as well where everyone should feel responsible to work passionately (worship in Salat), respect each other (stand shoulder-to-shoulder), keep his surroundings clean (ablution and cleanliness of Masjid), and follow the instructions of their superiors (Imam) without any resistance or laziness. Needless to say, it is a perfect system.
4. SEIKETSU
The fourth step of 5-S is Seiketsu which more or less translates into ‘standardized cleanup.’ Seiketsu encompasses both personal and environmental cleanliness. People must practice Seiketsu starting with their personal tidiness to keep themselves motivated and mentally fresh. Visual management is an important ingredient of Seiketsu.
· The Holy Quran also provides us with a standardized yet very comprehensive set of rules to obtain and maintain cleanliness at all physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels. One such standard is the five-time obligatory Salat which is also considered as the Pillar of Islam. Another is ablution, the standards of which are clearly stated in Islamic Fiqh.
5. SHITSUKU
The last step of 5-S is Shitsuke which literally means ‘Discipline.’
This golden rule denotes commitment to maintain orderliness and to practice the first 4 S’s as a way of life. The emphasis of Shitsuku is on the elimination of bad habits and constant practice of good ones. Once a person achieves the state of Shitsuke, cleanliness and orderliness is then voluntarily and at times subconsciously observed at all time, without the need of reminders or motivation. Shitsuke is the most evolved state of mind that incorporates all the previous golden rules. It is too obvious for any rational mind to conclude how natural it should be for a true Muslim to have this state of mind.
CONCLUSION:
Success and prosperity of an Organization or a Man is the outcome of commitment to certain golden principles of life that are readily available to us in the Holy Quran. These principles are independent, universal of and primarily aim at building a “whole” man capable of achieving his true potential in the purpose of his life. The Holy Quran; the most comprehensive divine book of the world has the solution to every problem and what remains is the practical implementation of these principles in our socio-economic and political lives.
Islam offers sound management principles that are timeless. Taken from the Noble Quran and the practical example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), these principles have been applied for over a thousand years.
In the era of globalization where managers often find themselves managing a diverse blend of people across continents, there is a need for universal principles for management. Islam offers such principles and best practices that any manager can adopt for successful management. For every practitioner of management, from aspiring team leader to the seasoned CEO, these principles will prove to be invaluable as they are suitable for people of all faiths and cultures.
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