5S Audit Model: Checklist for Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain

What 5S is

5S stands for Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. It is an organizational tool designed to ensure that your workplace operates efficiently, remains clean, and is safe. The 5S Audit Model is the tool that supports this work. It is built around three scored sections — sorting, reinforcement, and maintain — plus an audit section for who conducted the audit, where, and when. Each scored section contains ten questions answered Yes, No, or N/A, and each carries a score out of ten. The three section scores roll up into an overall score out of 50.

Why it matters

A 5S audit is how you confirm that the discipline is actually in place rather than assumed. The model checks the things that go wrong quietly: - Unwanted tools and materials left in the area - Unclear standards for what belongs where - Materials and ongoing tasks that are not correctly positioned - Tools that are not labeled or recorded on storage boards - Poorly stored cleaning equipment, products, PPE, ladders, and pallet jacks - Waste that is not disposed of correctly It also checks that the system keeps running between audits: that safety protocols are adhered to, that the red tagging process is reviewed and audited, and that there is an ongoing review of the 5S processes. An area that scores well on sorting but has no current action plan on the team board is not sustaining the work.

What a good 5S audit covers

The 5S Audit Model puts 41 items across its sections, organized around the five S's: - **Sort.** Evidence of regular red tagging; a system for removing red-tagged items; unused tools removed; unwanted materials removed; unnecessary items or ongoing projects removed; unnecessary parts or materials removed from machinery or equipment; cabinets and work surfaces organized; clear standards for organization; visual control respected; waste materials disposed of correctly. - **Straighten.** Materials or ongoing tasks positioned correctly; tools labeled and recorded on storage boards; cleaning equipment and accessories stored properly; products stored appropriately; PPE stored correctly; ladders stored properly; pallet jacks stored properly; stock levels agreed upon and maintained; separation lines and floor markings correctly color-coded; everything in the area easily identifiable. - **Shine.** The daily cleaning schedule being effectively followed. - **Standardize.** Safety protocols adhered to (safety glasses, safety shoes, etc.); work rules and procedures adhered to. - **Sustain.** The 5S action plan on the team board current; the 5S audit displayed on the team board; the 5S graphical representation displayed on the team board; the weekly 5S radar chart displayed on the team board; the red tagging process reviewed and audited; an ongoing review of the 5S processes evident; a displayed plan for 5S training needs. Alongside the scored questions, the audit section records who conducted the audit, when, and where, and the closing fields capture the overall score out of 50, a signature, the finished-at time, and the real start and end dates of the inspection.

How to carry it out

1. Open the audit and fill in the audit section: conducted on, prepared by, and location. 2. Walk the area and work through the sorting questions. Check for evidence of regular red tagging and for a system for removing red-tagged items, then confirm that unused tools, unwanted materials, and unnecessary items or ongoing projects have been removed. Look at machinery and equipment for unnecessary parts or materials, confirm that cabinets and work surfaces are organized and that clear standards for organization exist, that visual control is respected, and that waste materials are disposed of correctly. 3. Work through the reinforcement questions. Confirm that materials or ongoing tasks are positioned correctly and that tools are labeled and recorded on storage boards. Check that cleaning equipment and accessories, products, PPE, ladders, and pallet jacks are each stored properly, that stock levels are agreed upon and maintained, that separation lines and floor markings are correctly color-coded, and that everything in the area is easily identifiable. 4. Confirm that the daily cleaning schedule is being effectively followed, that safety protocols are adhered to (safety glasses, safety shoes, etc.), and that work rules and procedures are adhered to. 5. Confirm that the 5S action plan on the team board is current, that the 5S audit, the 5S graphical representation, and the weekly 5S radar chart are displayed on the team board, that the red tagging process is reviewed and audited, that an ongoing review of the 5S processes is evident, and that a plan for 5S training needs is displayed. 6. Record each section score out of 10, total them into the overall score out of 50, add the signature, and record the finished-at time and the real start and end dates of the inspection.

Scoring and review

Each question is answered Yes, No, or N/A, and each of the three scored sections is marked out of 10. Section scores combine into an overall score out of 50, so you can track the area over time and see which of the five S's is carrying the result and which is falling behind. Because the questions cover both the state of the area and the evidence that the system is being reviewed, a low score tells you whether the problem is housekeeping or follow-through.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 5S Audit Model is built around three scored sections — sorting, reinforcement, and maintain — plus an audit section for metadata such as who conducted the audit, where, and when. Each scored section contains ten questions with Yes/No/N/A answers and a score out of ten, and the results roll up into an overall score out of fifty.

A completed audit includes the conducted-on date, who prepared it, and the location, followed by the scored items in each section, the section scores, the overall score, a signature, and the real start and end dates of the inspection.

Yes/No/N/A, and each section's questions are scored out of ten.

Preparation is three fields in the audit section: conducted on, prepared by, and location.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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