5S Method Implementation in Power Department’s Warehouse of the Tren Urbano of Puerto Rico

Abstract

The Tren Urbano of Puerto Rico has a lot of material, equipment and tools to make the maintenance works. Many of them are electrical and there is a Power Department to make them. This department has been having problems to maintain the warehouse organized due the high volume of materials, their continuous use, and little space. To have an effective organization in the warehouse, the 5S method was implemented with five phases: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. In the first phase, the unnecessary materials, equipment, and tools were removed from the warehouse. During the second phase, the items that remained in the warehouse were arranged by use frequency and in a logical manner; and then were cleaned in the third phase. In the fourth, the first three phases were upheld with a checklist. In the last phase, training was continuously provided to maintain the habit. The organized warehouse improved time to find the materials, equipment, and tools; as well as avoid losing them. Also, no accidents and better results were obtained in electrical testing. Key Terms ⎯ Equipments, Management, Materials, Set in Order, Shine, Sort, Standardize, Sustain, Tools, Visual Management.