5S is a Lean manufacturing technique that addresses the organization of workspaces and work processes for a safer and more efficient manufacturing facility. It is called 5S because the five steps in this Lean tool, sorting, setting, shining, standardizing, and sustaining, start with the letter S in English and Japanese.

While much talk about 5S is geared toward manufacturers' needs, the 5S visual control technique can be of great value in other environments, such as healthcare, construction, education, and office settings.