Bangladeshi Rural Artisans adopt Japanese 5S Methodology

Last week at a BRAC rural manufacturing facility located in Manikganj, Bangladesh, which is two hours north of Dhaka, artisans were introduced to the Japanese 5S methodology. The artisans are part of the Ayesha Abed Foundation (AAF), Aarong’s manufacturing arm. Aarong is a BRAC social enterprise that has enabled livelihood opportunities for 65,000 artisans across rural Bangladesh.

The 5S methodology is part of a Japanese system of continuous improvement called Kaizan. The five components of 5S are: Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. The 5S method is instrumental in workspace organization ultimately leading to a clean, safe and an efficient work environment. Large manufacturing companies such as Boeing and GE have used Kaizan successfully to enhance productivity. In an effort to build the individual capacity of each artisan, 5S is among a series of initiatives that the artisans will be introduced to in coming months.

Aided by external consultants, the Aarong and AAF management prepared for the program launch by creating power-point presentations, posters and various visual aids. The launch included an interactive presentation through which the 5S methodology was communicated to a group of 52 artisans, mostly women. The consultants and management will work with the artisans at the Manikganj facility over the next few months, ensuring that they can leverage the 5S techniques and sustain them in the long-term.

Tamara Abed, Aarong’s director, is a proponent of innovation in craft design and production techniques. She participated in the presentation explaining the merits of the 5S methodology, and how it can aid in enhancing productivity, ultimately helping the artisans to increase their income.

-Richa Agarwal