Sales Bits: Creating Excellence Through 5S

Organization is more than appearance—it's a reflection of discipline, safety, and operational excellence. In this Sales Bit, Denny explains the principles of 5S and how creating orderly, intentional workspaces leads to greater productivity and stronger customer confidence.

From Denny Vander Molen, President of Vermeer MidSouth and Founder and CEO of Jackson Endeavors:

All

Saying all the right things at the right time is important. But truly seeing the right message in action is where the rubber hits the road.

"Most companies think 5S fails because people are not disciplined. 5S fails because people stop talking about it." — Ananth Palaniappan

Last week, we discussed the 7 core wastes that creep into our workplaces, homes, and daily routines. Identifying waste is a great start, but how do we actively eliminate it? We do it through a mindset called 5S.

Our first enterprise exposure to reducing waste was right in the workplace, where we learned the raw fundamentals of keeping a shop clean and organized. Back then, it was a major continuous improvement event. We would take a team of 8 to 10 people, descend on a branch, and completely gut the service area. We scrubbed, cleaned, and polished the floors and walls the best we could. From there, the floors were painted, lines were drawn, everything had a designated home, and everyone knew exactly where to find it.

Bringing all of that together was a massive undertaking, but it was an incredible team-building exercise. The ultimate challenge, however, wasn't creating the order—it was sustaining it and keeping our shops clean, safe, and orderly over the long haul.

Today, we know that the 5S mindset isn't just for technicians; it applies to everyone with a desk, a laptop, or a parts counter. Even keeping a digital computer desktop organized is essential to eliminating daily chaos.

So, what exactly is 5S?

• Sort: Separating the necessary from the unnecessary. It means clearing out the clutter, broken tools, and obsolete paperwork so only what we need to do the job remains.

• Set in Order: A place for everything, and everything in its place. For every minute spent organizing, an hour of productivity can be earned.

• Shine: Cleaning and inspecting your workplace daily. A clean workspace reveals abnormalities, fluid leaks, and safety hazards before they become costly breakdowns or accidents.

• Standardize: Setting the visual rules and routines so that we get things to the right place, at the right time, the first time—consistently across every department.

• Sustain: Building the disciplined routine that forms the foundation of continuous improvement. This is the most critical "S," and easily the hardest to maintain.

Over the last 20 to 30 years, we expended a lot of energy and incurred high costs on these shop and parts department 5S activities. Some worked out long-term, while many others did not. Thankfully, our methods have improved. For example, we no longer paint entire shop floors, but painting clear safety lines to keep foot traffic safe around equipment remains absolutely critical. Designated areas for specialized tools, fire extinguishers, and staging areas should always maintain their rightful space.

The question for each of us this week is simple: What kind of message is your workspace sending?

Is it broadcasting chaos and disorganization, or is it telling our team and customers that we are orderly, precise, and safe? Do we leave inventory spaces, floors, and tables cleaner than we found them? How about our desks and computer files?

Our fellow team members notice these visual messages every day. More importantly, our customers see exactly where their investment in us is going.

"But all things should be done decently and in order." — 1 Corinthians 14:40

Have a great sales week!