5S Sustenance Level-Up for Salem, Hosur and ECB Units

Dhanasekar Sundaramoorthy*

AGM & Head of Business Excellence – Kauvery Group of Hospitals, India.

Background

On the 21st of July 2023, the prestigious 20th year of ABK AOTS 5S Certification and Award Ceremony took place at Hotel Ramada, where our units in Salem, Hosur, and Electronic City Bengaluru were honored for their outstanding performance in achieving the sustenance level I & II award. It was a moment of pride for our teams as they were recognized for their dedication and commitment to the 5S principles. Among the three units, Salem stands one step closer to becoming the model unit, while Hosur and Electronic City Bengaluru have made significant progress and are now just two steps away from attaining the coveted model unit status. This achievement reflects the hard work and efforts put in by all team members and unit heads to maintain high standards of quality.

Before the award ceremony kick started Mr. Selvam, the Facility Director of the Salem unit, was deeply honored to participate in a debate on audit experiences, joining other esteemed external assessors.

During the seminar on Good 5S, Mr. Balaji from the Innovations department made the presentation focusing on Kauvery’s remarkable journey of digitalizing the checklist, showcasing their pioneering approach to incorporating technology into their 5S practices. This insightful presentation shed light on Kauvery’s vision for the future, a realistic concept showcasing their commitment to embracing innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and organization

Road to Sustenance Level:

2019-2022:

In 2019, our Salem unit received the 5S Platinum award, following which Hosur unit won the Gold award recognizing their exceptional commitment to maintaining a well-organized and efficient workspace. However, their journey towards further improvement was unexpectedly halted for two years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the challenges posed during this period, our team persevered and remained determined to achieve their goals. Once the situation improved, they eagerly took on the challenge of reaching next level in 2022, and to everyone’s delight Bangalore unit joined the race, took on the challenge and they accomplished it with remarkable ease, in July 2022 Salem was honored with Sustenance 1, followed by Hosur and Bangalore unit who were honored with the platinum award. The taste of success only fueled their determination, and instead of resting on their laurels, they continued their sustenance journey, determined to achieve even greater heights in the future.

SustenanceJourney

Having been recognized with the prestigious 5S Sustenance Level I and Platinum awards in July 2022, our respective units acted promptly in embarking on their journey towards further excellence. Eager to maintain and build upon their achievements, the units swiftly initiated their pre-op works for the next sustenance level.

Salem Unit took the lead and announced their Sustenance kick-off challenge in October, setting the tone for the upcoming endeavors. Hosur unit followed, with their own kick-off challenge in November, while the Bangalore unit joined the ranks with their kick-off challenge in December 2022. Though the kickoff happened during consecutive months the destination for all the units remained the same, to one summit, which is Sustenance The teams exhibited enthusiasm and determination to embrace the new challenges and upheld the principles of 5S, paving the way for even greater accomplishments ahead.

Primary Level:

After the successful kick-off, the respective unit heads and 5S representatives collaborated closely to finalize the activity chart, outlining the roadmap for their sustenance journey. With the support and guidance of the business excellence team, they carefully identified and solidified the pillars essential for each sustenance level, laying the groundwork for continuous improvement. At the helm of the monitoring and evaluation process was done by Head of Business Excellence, a seasoned expert well-versed in 5S principles. He took on the responsibility of overseeing the units’ sustenance progress, ensuring adherence to the established standards and providing valuable feedback. He meticulously reviewed the units’ progress, providing valuable feedback and guidance to ensure that the sustenance efforts aligned with the highest standards. With a dedicated team and Mr. Dhanasekar’s watchful eye, the units were poised to navigate their sustenance path with precision and efficiency.

Secondary Level:

After a month had passed since the kick-off, the Business Excellence team scheduled a 1st cut review to assess the progress of the sustenance journey. There insightful thoughts and meticulous micro-level audit played a pivotal role in identifying areas for improvement. The review provided valuable feedback to the unit heads and respective coordinators, who then took on the responsibility of addressing the identified audit gaps. Their unwavering dedication and tremendous efforts in closing these gaps significantly strengthened the sustenance goals. The units embraced the feedback as opportunities for growth and worked diligently to refine their processes and enhance their 5S implementation. This collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement by the respective units ensured that the sustenance journey was on track to achieve even greater success in the future.

Tertiary Level:

After successfully closing the audit points, the focus shifted to kick-starting one of the crucial pillars – 5S BYB (Beyond Boundaries) – in our sustenance journey. Recognizing that going beyond boundaries is a key factor in achieving sustenance levels, the pillar head led the charge with unwavering commitment and determination. The audit process for 5S BYB was particularly challenging as it involved external preferences such other Non-clinical work place or sector and required a collaborative effort from all unit members. However, they involved to the occasion, playing a pivotal role in completing the task with ease. Their dedication and enthusiasm were evident in every step of the process, showcasing the collective strength of their respective units in embracing new challenges and pushing the boundaries of excellence.

After successfully completing the 5S BYB (Beyond Boundaries) pillar, the respective unit’s pillar heads took on the task of preparing presentations with the support of the business excellence team. Each pillar’s progress was carefully reviewed by the team of Business Excellence and coordinators to ensure accuracy and alignment with the sustenance goals. Once the final presentations were ready, the concept of benchmarking came into play. Within the units, team members shared their knowledge and insights on the new concepts and practices implemented in relation to the fundamental 5S principles and other pillars. This collaborative benchmarking process allowed the teams to learn from each other’s experiences, facilitating a continuous exchange of best practices and innovative ideas.

The implementation of 5S in kids was undoubtedly a key factor in achieving sustenance excellence. The initiative involved bringing employee kids to the hospital and imparting training on 5S practices in a fun and engaging manner. A lively game show was conducted to reinforce the concepts, and the participation of the kids added a delightful touch to the event. The jurors were genuinely impressed by the feedback and testimonials provided by the children, who eloquently explained the 5S derivations they had learned. Witnessing the enthusiasm and understanding displayed by the young participants further underscored the effectiveness of the program in fostering a culture of organization and cleanliness within the hospital. This unique approach not only promoted 5S among the employees’ families but also instilled valuable habits in the younger generation, ensuring a sustainable commitment to excellence in the future.

Mock Audit

The mock audit was a crucial milestone in the sustenance journey for all three units, as expert juries from external ventures, including service and manufacturing industries, were brought in to conduct a thorough evaluation. The feedback and input provided by these external juries proved to be immensely valuable, guiding the units towards attaining higher levels of sustenance. Through the mock audit, the juries pinpointed both the positive aspects and areas in need of improvement for each respective unit. Interestingly, one common strength identified across all three units was their exemplary floor-side 5S practices and well-designed signage’s. This recognition served as a testament to the units’ commitment to maintaining a clean and organized workspace, enhancing safety, and improving overall efficiency.

Final Audit

The feedback from the mock audit was taken seriously by the respective unit heads, coordinators, and pillar heads, and they promptly took action to address the identified points of improvement. The Business Excellence team also provided valuable guidance, advising the units to include the closure of the mock audit points in their sustenance level presentations, showcasing their dedication and determination to achieve their goals. Like the mock audits, the juries for the final sustenance evaluation were chosen from the industry and service sectors, despite encountering challenges along the way, all three units emerged triumphant in the sustenance race. Their hard work, commitment, and cohesive approach led them to triumph with flying colors, reaffirming their position as exemplars of excellence within the organization,

Sl. No	Unit	Level	Targeted Score	Actual Score
1	Salem	Sustenance II	751 800	806
2	Hosur	Sustenance I	701 750	755
3	Bangalore (Electronic City)	752

Conclusion:

In addition to the positive feedback received during the audits, Salem unit commended by the juries for being fully equipped and well-prepared for their next level, aiming to become Model units, and other units can challenge. The thorough evaluation by the external experts highlighted the remarkable progress and dedication displayed by both units in implementing 5S principles and maintaining a high standard of organization. The recognition of their readiness for the next levels serves as a testament to the hard work put in by the unit heads, coordinators, pillar heads, and all team members involved. This acknowledgment further fuels their determination to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence, setting the stage for even greater achievements in their sustenance journey.