I love creating new works of art in my home studio, but lately, the disorganization had made it less enjoyable and harder to work in. Finding what I needed became a challenge—tools were mixed in with my in-progress ceramics, and even a few of my daughter’s toys had somehow made their way into the space. It was clear that working like this wasn’t sustainable. With my family’s help, we researched and applied the 5S principals to bring order back to my studio.

The 5S methodology is a well-known system developed in Japan and is used to this day in lean manufacturing to improve efficiency in production while reducing waste. My husband used 5s techniques all the time when he worked in manufacturing

The process involves five key steps: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.

Sort (Simplify)

"Sort" is the term used in the first stage of 5S, but I prefer to use the term "Simplify." Simplify means getting rid of anything that isn’t needed in your workspace—clearing out clutter and unnecessary items, leaving only the tools, materials, and other essentials. My family and I cleared everything out of my workspace and started fresh. We carefully put back only the materials, tools, and equipment I actually use for pottery. During this process, I discovered all kinds of things that had made their way into the studio—everything from unneeded tools and excess equipment. Everything else found a new home, whether at Goodwill, in storage, or in the trash.

Set in Order (Straighten)

"Set in Order," or otherwise referred to as, "Straighten," is the next step, which focuses on arranging items in your workspace for easy flow and access. As I began organizing everything, I asked myself which items I used most often and made sure they were easily accessible and within reach. Items I used less frequently were placed on higher or lower shelves. During this process, I realized the large bulky white shelf did not work for this space, so I moved it to another room and replaced it with two new racks. Lighting had been another issue, so I swapped my old wooden lamp for two new bright clamp-on lamps. These changes not only helped maximize space but also improved the overall functionality of the studio.

Shine (Scrub)

“Shine,” or otherwise referred to as, “Scrub,” is the next step, and it’s the simplest of them all: just clean! In this step, my family cleaned everything, from my workstation to the shelves and the floors. It’s important not to overlook this step and to maintain the discipline to clean your station after every use.

Stabilize

“Stabilize,” is the next step, where you create consistent processes to maintain the organization. Label everything is a key part of the Stabilize step because it sets a clear, designated place for each item. This is crucial to prevent reverting to old habits and to maintain order in the studio. We labeled everything—from tools and equipment to racks, and even the trash can. Every item needs a place to stay organized. I also labeled my racks to create a circular workflow, moving pottery from works-in-process to drying. For example, the first rack is for all my pottery tools and equipment, the second is for pottery in progress, and the last two racks are for pottery drying and waiting to be bisque-fired. Labeling my shelves and workstation helped ensure that everything has its proper home.

Sustain

“Sustain” is the last step, which focuses on maintaining the improvements you've made and making them part of your daily routine. I feel this is the hardest step, as it’s all about discipline to keep my workspace organized and not fall back into old habits. Once in a while, I need to push myself to ensure that I maintain my organization and keep things where they are supposed to be.

By using the 5S principles and 5S of lean manufacturing, I’ve transformed my pottery studio into a more organized, efficient, and enjoyable space to work. With everything in its place and clearly labeled, I can now focus more on making pottery and less on disorganization. The process not only helped me streamline my studio but also made me realize the importance of maintaining a clean and organized environment. Moving forward, I’m committed to sustaining these improvements and ensuring that my workspace continues to support my creativity and productivity.

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