Anatomy of 5S Red Tags

Nothing exemplifies the 5S system of workplace organization more than 5S Red Tags. They convey information quickly and visually, they categorize wasteful items, and they facilitate their appropriate removal. Far more than just brightly colored pieces of paper, Red Tags are a powerful and versatile tool for making any workplace more lean and productive. Let’s explore the different elements of these visual management devices to understand a little more about them.

The Tie:

It might not seem that interesting, but a reliable way to attach the tag to the targeted item is important. If they fall off, then no action will be initiated for the targeted item, and this item will continues to make wasteful use of space. 

The Body of the Tag:

Typically bright red, but it doesn't have to be. The concept of the 5S Tag can be applied using any color. This is especially important if the color red carried some other meaning in the workplace, as is the case with many safety initiatives.

The Fields:

This is where the person tagging the item documents important details that will be used to determine what to do with the unnecessary item. This can include specialized check boxes for common categories, blank fields for explanations, and areas to assign and sign off on tasks. The most important fields for tracking are: the name of the person who tagged the item, the name of the item, the item number (if applicable), the reason it was tagged, the proposed course of action, and the person assigned to carrying out that proposed course of action.

The Red Tag Register:

While this is not actually part of the tag itself, the 5S Red Tag Register form is a very important part of the Red Tagging process. The register is a compiled list of tagged items that reflects the information on the 5S Red Tags in an easily visible centralized location. This is typically the same area where Red Tagged items are stored. This allows you to see the big picture without sorting through all the tagged items. It has fields matching those on the tags. With each tagged item, a new entry should be made with the information from the Red Tag’s fields copied over.

While this concept originated with the need to organize physical objects in a manufacturing setting, the principles of this 5S method can also be applied to digital assets. This is especially true of the Red Tag Register. A digital Red Tag Register can be used to remotely access information regarding physical assets as well. This would allow people to update the register from anywhere at any time.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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