5S Audit Checklist

A printable 5S audit for walking one work area and scoring Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain.

Published October 18, 2026

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Sort (Seiri)

Remove items not used in this area in the last month
Red-tag any item whose need is unclear
Write the item, date, name of the person tagging it and the reason on the tag.
Move red-tagged items to the marked red-tag holding area
Set a holding period, such as 30 days, and dispose of unclaimed items
Clear broken tools, scrap and expired materials from the area
Keep only the stock needed for the current shift or job

Set in Order (Seiton)

Give every tool and item one fixed home
Store the most-used items closest to the point of use
Mount hand tools on shadow boards with an outline for each tool
An empty outline shows at a glance what is missing or not put back.
Label shelves, bins, drawers and cabinets with their contents
Mark walkways, work cells and storage spots with floor tape or paint
Set min/max levels on stock locations so shortages show

Shine (Seiso)

Clean floors, benches and machines, including under and behind them
Check for leaks, loose parts and wear while cleaning
Cleaning is also an inspection. Note oil drips, frayed cables and loose guards.
Find the sources of dirt, dust and spills and fix them
Keep cleaning supplies stocked in a labeled spot in the area
Post a cleaning schedule that names who cleans what and when

Standardize (Seiketsu)

Take a photo of the area at its best and post it as the standard
Use the same label style, colors and floor markings across all areas
One color code site-wide, such as yellow for walkways, avoids confusion when staff move between areas.
Write short one-page instructions for daily 5S tasks
Add 5S tasks to shift start-up or shutdown routines
Make sure everyone in the area can explain the standard

Sustain (Shitsuke)

Schedule regular audits and post the dates
Post audit scores where the team can see them
Assign an owner and due date to every finding
A finding with no name next to it rarely gets fixed. Check last audit's actions first.
Train new staff in the area standard during their first week
Review results with the team and agree on the next fix

Safety (6th S, Optional)

Check that exits, fire extinguishers and electrical panels are clear
Look for trip hazards, missing guards and damaged equipment
Confirm required PPE is available and in use

Audit Score and Sign-Off

Area: ____ Date: ____
Score (0–5) per S: Sort ____ Set ____ Shine ____ Standardize ____ Sustain ____
0 = not started, 3 = in place but not consistent, 5 = fully in place and maintained.
Total score (out of 25): ____ Previous score: ____
Top three actions, owner and due date: ____
Auditor: ____ Area owner: ____ Next audit date: ____

0 / 35 done

Use this 5S checklist to audit one work area at a time. Walk the area, check each item under Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain, then score each S from 0 to 5. The total out of 25 gives you a baseline you can compare month to month.

5S comes from Japanese manufacturing and is part of lean production. The five words are Seiri (Sort), Seiton (Set in Order), Seiso (Shine), Seiketsu (Standardize) and Shitsuke (Sustain). It works in factories, warehouses, workshops, labs, kitchens and offices.

The first three S's change the area. The last two keep it that way. Most 5S programs fail at Sustain, so the audit section asks for an owner, a date and follow-up actions, not just a score.

FAQ

What are the 5S's in order?

Sort (Seiri), Set in Order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardize (Seiketsu) and Sustain (Shitsuke). Do them in that order. There is no point labeling a shelf for items you are about to throw out, or cleaning around clutter.

What is 6S?

6S adds Safety to the five S's. Some sites treat it as a separate step, checking for trip hazards, blocked exits, missing guards and PPE. Others fold safety checks into each S. If your site uses 6S, add a Safety row to the score sheet.

How often should you do a 5S audit?

Many sites audit each area weekly while 5S is new, then monthly once scores are steady. Short daily checks by the people who work in the area, plus a monthly audit by someone from outside it, catch more than either one alone.

What is a red tag in 5S?

A red tag marks an item whose need is in doubt during Sort. The tag records what the item is, who tagged it, the date and why. Tagged items go to a holding area for a set time. If no one claims them, they are moved, sold, recycled or scrapped.

Built from public guidance and kept up to date — how we write our checklists. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.