While the specific 5 Ss can be different for each company, the overall concept of orderliness in the workplace is accepted by almost all businesses. In layman's terms, 5S can be summarized as a place of everything and everything in its place. 5S activity is usually the first step in any lean transformation. If a workplace is cluttered or disorganized, productivity and quality improvements can be realized by successfully implementing a 5S program.

There are many real impacts from improving 5S: elimination of wasted time hunting for supplies or parts, improvement in inventory control by reduction of lost stock, reduction of inventory levels by the establishment of correctly sized storage locations, etc. Many ancillary effects can be equally important. Generally, morale is much better in a clean and orderly environment than in a chaotic and disorganized environment.

Most lean systems are built on the concept of visual management; it is almost impossible to have a visual management system without having a neat and well-defined workplace.