5S Audit Checklist (Free, Printable, Excel)

0%

0 of 30 items complete

5 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.

Download checklist:

1. Sort (Seiri)

Only items needed for current work are in the areaRed tag area exists and tagged items have a disposition dateCRITICALNo unidentified or obsolete materials, fixtures or toolsNo personal items on work surfaces beyond the allowed listExcess inventory is removed or clearly limited by min and maxCabinets and drawers have been reviewed in the last audit cycle

2. Set in Order (Seiton)

Every tool, gauge and fixture has a defined home with a labelShadow boards or outlines show missing items at a glanceMaterial locations, aisles and walkways are marked on the floorCRITICALFrequently used items are within easy reach of the operatorMin and max levels are visible for consumables and WIPFire extinguishers, eyewash and electrical panels are unobstructedCRITICAL

3. Shine (Seiso)

Floors are free of oil, coolant, chips and debrisMachines are clean and leaks have been reported or repairedCRITICALCleaning tasks and frequency are assigned to named peopleCleaning supplies are available and stored in their homeLighting is working and fixtures are cleanWaste, scrap and recycling bins are labelled and not overflowing

4. Standardize (Seiketsu)

A visual 5S standard (photo of target state) is posted in the areaColor coding and labeling follow the site-wide conventionChecklists for daily cleaning and restoring are in useWork instructions and visual controls are current and readableResponsibilities for 5S are written and known to the teamThe same standard is applied across shifts

5. Sustain (Shitsuke)

Audits are performed on schedule and results are postedPrevious audit findings have owners and are closed on timeCRITICALTeam members can explain the 5S standard for their areaLeaders walk the area regularly and ask about 5SImprovement suggestions from the team are recorded and acted onAudit scores show a stable or rising trend over recent cycles

Tick each item that is fully met in the audited area. Score is items met divided by total items. Many sites treat 80 percent as the minimum and 90 percent as the target, but set your own thresholds.

Track 5S findings next to your work orders

Optional: talk to us about linking audit actions to maintenance and quality records in your ERP.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

How to run the audit

Audit one area at a time with the area owner present. Walk the area in the same direction each time, tick items that are fully met, and leave items unticked if they are only partly met. Partial credit hides problems. Take photos of failed items and attach them to the corrective action. Rotate auditors between areas so that fresh eyes see what the team has gone blind to. A full cell audit should take between ten and twenty minutes.

Use the same checklist for every area so scores can be compared
Audit on a fixed day and time to avoid pre-cleaning for the audit
Post results on the area board with the previous score
Assign every failed item an owner and a due date

What each S is checking

Sort asks whether anything is in the area that does not belong. Set in Order asks whether everything that does belong has an obvious place, so a missing item is visible within seconds. Shine is about cleaning as inspection: leaks, wear and loose parts show up when a machine is wiped down. Standardize converts the first three into visual rules and routines. Sustain is the leadership layer, meaning audits happen, actions close and the team can explain the standard in its own words.

Scoring and thresholds

The tool counts items met against the 30 total and gives a percent. A common practice is to treat anything below 60 percent as a restart of the 5S program in that area, 60 to 80 as in progress, and above 80 as a maintained standard. Critical items, such as blocked fire equipment or uncontrolled leaks, should trigger action even if the percent is high. Track scores per area per month; a flat line at 100 percent often means the audit is too easy.

Common mistakes

The most frequent failure is treating 5S as a one-off clean-up event. Others include adding labels without removing clutter first, letting supervisors do the cleaning for the team, and auditing only the shop floor while offices, tool cribs and warehouses decay. Adapt the items for each environment but keep the five-part structure so the program stays recognizable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should we run a 5S audit?

Weekly self-audits by the area team and a monthly cross-audit by a different team or leader work well for most plants. New or weak areas benefit from more frequent checks until the score is stable.

What is a good 5S audit score?

There is no universal standard. Many plants set 80 percent as the pass line and 90 percent as the goal, but the trend and speed of closing actions matter more than the number.

Can I use this outside of manufacturing?

Yes. The structure applies to warehouses, tool cribs, labs, maintenance shops and offices. Edit the item wording in the Excel export to fit the environment.

What does the sixth S, safety, add?

Some sites add Safety as a sixth S. This checklist flags safety-critical items inside the five S's. If you want a separate section, add it as a group after export.

If you want audit results and corrective actions tracked alongside your ERP work orders and quality records, we can help connect them.

Talk to an Expert Explore More Free Tools

Related Tools

Discrete Manufacturing

More Discrete Manufacturing tools

See all

5S Audit Checklist for Manufacturing and Shop Floor Areas