5S Evaluation Checklist
Date: _________________
Location: ______________
Evaluator: _____________
Category
Sort
“Removing from
the area items
that are not
needed for
production or
clerical
operation.”
Check Item
Materials,
Specimens
Evaluation Criteria
Excessive reagents; unnecessary kits; defective kits retained in area;
extra parts; specimens piling up
Equipment
Unused instruments in the lab?
Transport equipment stored in work cell?
Tools
Supplies
Extra gloves, tape, pipet tips, test tubes, etc stored in work area?
Withdrawal kanbans in place and being utilized?
Extra/duplicate forms, office supplies clutter area; absence/obsolete
standard work sheets; obsolete procedure manuals
Containers
Parts and reagent containers labeled?
Cabinets, files, shelves, etc. labeled?
Aisles, Floors
New
Specimens,
SIP,
Completed
Specimens
Storage locations marked? Safety equipment accessible and
identified? Outsider can understand workflow and process visually?
Items can be located immediately?
Designated and clearly marked?
Clear of obstructions?
Properly stored?
Quality standards visible and clear?
Designated location for each item visually defined?
Designated locations for untested, tested, and completed specimens?
Equipment
Clearly marked and accessible?
Easy to locate/replace for anyone?
Supplies maintained and controlled?
Min/max levels marked and visible?
Designated posting areas?
Visible to operators?
Visible to anyone auditing the work cell?
Continual evaluation of methods and process to implement
improvements?
Equipment clean and orderly?
Cleaning performed regularly and recorded?
Specimens
Specimens put away in timely fashion?
Spills properly addressed?
Supplies
Supplies maintained and properly labeled?
Supplies kept separate from specimens?
Work areas
Counter tops clean and orderly? Spill kits available?
Disinfectant bottles filled? Paper towels available?
Tools
All tools clean and properly stored?
Tools cleaned on a regular basis? Cleaning recorded?
Documents
Documents are clean and serum-free?
Cleaning records are well maintained?
Equipment,
tools, supplies
Documents,
standards,
charts,
instructions
Shine
“Clean work
areas improve
employee
morale and
keep unneeded
materials out of
the workcell.”
Unnecessary tables, cabinets, files, shelves etc. present?
Unnecessary tools? Everything in its place?
Documents
Locations
Stabilize
“Arranging
needed items
so that they are
easy to use and
labeling them
so that they are
easy to find and
put away.”
Good: 3
Needs Improvement: 2
Not Good: 1
© 2004 Twenty-First Century Laboratory Consulting, LLC | M. S. Stegall & Associates, LLC
Evaluation
5S Evaluation Checklist
(continued)
Date: _________________
Location: ______________
Evaluator: _____________
Category
Check Item
Materials
Standardize
“Everybody
performs all
operations the
same way every
time.”
Equipment
Tools
Supplies
Documents
Workspace
Sustain
“All workers in
the cell
understand
where things
go, what to do,
and when to do
it.”
Laboratorians
Specimen
Handling
Documents,
standards,
charts,
instructions
Good: 3
Needs Improvement: 2
Not Good: 1
Evaluation Criteria
Materials are stored and handled according to standard
procedures?
Equipment is maintained and operated according to standard
procedures?
The right tool is used at the right time?
Tools are properly stored?
Supplies used properly and as intended?
Documentation of standard procedures is visible in the work cell.
Results are promptly reported.
New methods are continually proposed and tested.
Clean and unobstructed?
Everything in its place?
All personnel have read and understand standard work?
Personnel are actively pursuing process improvements?
All specimens are handled in a safe manner?
Specimens are properly and promptly stored when complete?
Operators understand and utilize the documents posted in the work
cell. Scheduled maintenance is performed and documented. Work
improvement processes have been implemented. Results are
promptly reported.
© 2004 Twenty-First Century Laboratory Consulting, LLC | M. S. Stegall & Associates, LLC
Evaluation