Standardize is the activity of making Sort, Straighten, and Shine part of the project routines. When the general contractor realizes how much benefit they receive from doing 5S, they introduce other standards as statements. For example, “Nothing Hits the Ground” is a policy that Turner Construction uses. “Everything on Wheels” is another one used by many. These standards are usually written into agreements so that every trade knows what is expected. When this is done, and when Sort, Straighten and Sweep standards are created, the team is well on the way of doing the fourth S–Standardize.

Figure 1 – The 5S Categories progress to STANDARDIZE

The standards are developed and tried out in the Sort and Straighten steps of the 5S system and vetted for effectiveness, efficiency, and improvements during the Sweep/Shine step. This is done at each of the phases of the project and throughout the life of the project. They become standards when they are stable. They are stable when the team believes that they should not be adjusted unless some new impactful improvement warrants it. Standards are the agreements that the trades have at the field-leader level about the quantity of materials, how to move materials, what the access points for deliveries are, where charging stations will be, how often materials will be delivered, what time deliveries are allowed, what the standard is for daily cleanups, what our auditing process is, and much more. The project team will document this agreement and use signage and a checklist to ensure compliance. All this will become part of the trade partner onboarding process as new workers are added to the team. Individual trades should have worked out their 5S plan before meeting with the project teams to develop a collaborative 5S plan for all trades working together on the site.

An example, all materials are delivered on Friday afternoon for all the work that starts on the following Monday. This would be for all trade partners, and it has been agreed upon by all trade partners. They may have specific labeling they like to use, or clam boxes they prefer, or material carts, scaffolding on wheels, or PMI boxes, mobile lunch stations, and any other equipment they must have on-site. The list is long, and every trade has a slightly different list. What are the standards they have and how will they affect the project team? Lean trades have a plan, and traditional teams will work within the context and control the general contractor sets up. If we do not spend time together to discuss what is best for our teams, the odds of having an efficient site and efficient workday are slim to none. When teams work out the material handling standards or rules for the team, the site becomes pristine, safer, happier, and standards of excellence are born.

Standards are a documented agreement of understanding after establishing and executing the Sort, Straighten, and Sweep parts of the 5S system. Before or after the three Ss have been accomplished, you can discuss how the materials will be located, transported, and moved around the site at each phase of the project. Create a documented version of this plan that can be posted on the site and in the planning room and job trailers.

Figure 2 – Example of a Visual Standards Sign