Abstract

Well-organized, clean, ordered work and production environments have remained in focus since the 60s. The Japanese 5S methodology is a versatile instrument for any organization and allows for creating and maintaining safe, efficient, and neat workplaces. Even though, nowadays, the Western world keeps searching for the application ways and empirical proof in various companies. In underdeveloped countries, the problem comes due to cultural customs, lack of knowledge, and deficient technical capabilities. Accordingly, this paper proposes improving a Bolivian telecommunications firm health and safety system by implementing this methodology. The paper shows the design and development of a 5S order and cleanliness program followed by establishing monitoring and check tools, technical norms, procedures, layout design and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) analysis. The results showed visible changes in the operations center, improvements, and benefits such as workstation waste reduction, procedures standardization, elimination of time wasting, increase in efficiency, stress reduction, and economic benefits. Order, efficiency, and lean frames, need advances for undeveloped countries, and this study shows empirical evidence for improvement in this direction.