If we are allotted a work, we will observe that five steps have been taken- organisation, neatness, cleaning, standardisation and discipline. This is what Japanese followed and integrated them as workplace management.
Japanese in their language call these steps as SEIRI, SEITON, SEISO, SEIKETSU and SHITSUKE.
SEIRI – organization or re-organisation
SEITON – Neatness
SEISO- Cleaning
SEIKETSU – Standardization
SHITSUKE – Discipline
Thus Five S is an integrated concept for housekeeping or workplace management.