What is 6S? Final lessons from The Garage Project Published Oct. 24, 2008 By Micah Garbarino Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Editor's note: This is the last in a series of articles on 6S. Saving time and working more efficiently should be the goal of any large organization, especially one trusted with the nation's safety and tax dollars. To live up to their own high standards, the Air Force enacted Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. Part of AFSO21 is 6S, a model that encourages order in the workplace for a variety of reasons, benefiting efficiency. In an effort to easily explain the process, we have applied the steps to a fictional model called The Garage Project. Last week, we looked at the first three steps in the process: sort, straighten and shine. This week, we'll move on to standardize, sustain and safety. Last week we pulled everything out, threw some of it away, recycled some of it, organized and labeled what was left and then cleaned up the mess. So, the garage is looking quite a bit better, but the project is only halfway through the 6Ss. The other steps in the process are: Standardize: Now that the place is clean and organized, it's time to make sure everyone is on the same page. After all, it takes more than one person to mess up a garage. It's going to take more than one person to make sure it stays in top form. If you're the only person who knows where everything is supposed to go, it won' stay organized for long. Call a family meeting in the garage. Go over the new set-up. Explain why you put things where they are, and come up with a diagram or chart that will be easy for everyone to reference. This will make items easy for anyone to locate. It will also make it easy to see when things are out of place and anyone who sees it will be able to put them right again. Sustain: Keeping things straight is the hardest part. No matter how hard you try, things seem to follow the path of the natural world, proceeding from order into disorder. First, it's a wrench out of place and then a ladder not put away properly. Soon you're crashing through a disorganized heap, looking for a tire pump while a child cries in the driveway with a flat bike-tire. Set a schedule to go and inspect the garage. Take time to look things over and make adjustments where needed. If you're only in the garage when you're in a hurry, trying to get something done, chances are you'll leave a mess. Move beyond the garage by taking the steps applied here and use them in another area of the house. This will lead to a change in culture and pretty soon clutter won't be the norm any more. Safety: This is the most important step in any process and cannot stand on its own, but should weave into every other step. Think about safety as you are making improvements to the garage. Should the gas can sit next to the hot-water heater? Do I really need anchors for this new shelf? No-brainers. While time-savings and increased efficiency are the goal of any successful organization project, neither should be accomplished at the expense of safety. Think about the positioning of equipment in relation to one another. Is there clearance? Is there room to walk without tripping? Hopefully this model made the simple steps of 6S more clear. Maybe your real garage will some day be as clean and functional as your imaginary garage. With the steps of 6S it is a very real possibility. It is also the goal of this program to ensure that every employee understands the steps and are able to apply them to their workplaces. This will ensure that the Air Force stays efficient, responsible and competitive in an ever-changing world.