
20 ◾ A Factory of One
not only calls for organization in the workplace,
but aesthetic uniformity. Sweaters can’t hang on
the backs of chairs, personal items can’t be stowed
beneath desks and the only decorations allowed on
cabinets are official company plaques or certificates.
5
But that’s not what I’m talking about. 5S for knowledge
workers means 5S for the information you manage, not rules
about where you can hang your sweater.
What Is Information 5S?
Before going into details for each word, it’s helpful to see
them laid out in Japanese and English (Table2.1).
Table 2.1 5S Term Translation
Japanese
Term Translation Description
Seiri Sort Throw out ...