--- title: 5S Magnetic Overlays – What Are They and How Do You Use Them? description: Discover how 5S Magnetic Overlays can help sustain Lean programs in your workplace. Learn how to use them effectively and enhance visual management for long-term success. image: https://clarity-safety.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/BASF-5S-Notice-Board-344x226.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://clarity-safety.com/learning-centre/2019/01/09/5s-magnetic-overlays-what-are-they-and-how-do-you-use-them#main-content) [![ClarityVM Brand Logo](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Other/social-suggested-images/clarity-safety.comhs-fshubfsNew%20Website%20Logo-1.png?width=148&height=87&name=clarity-safety.comhs-fshubfsNew%20Website%20Logo-1.png)](https://2526641.hs-sites.com/home) - [Services](https://clarity-safety.com/visual-factory-fit-out) Show submenu for Services - [Polymer Barriers](https://clarity-safety.com/polymer-safety-barriers) - [Floor Marking LED Projectors](https://clarity-safety.com/led-projected-floor-markings) - [Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/visual_management_products) - [Warehouse Safety Audit](https://clarity-safety.com/warehouse-safety-audit-uk-forklift-pedestrian-risk-review) - [Consulting & Training](https://clarity-safety.com/consulting-training) - [Testing](https://clarity-safety.com/barriers-testing) - [Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/factory-fit-out-pricing) Show submenu for Pricing - [Fit Out Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/factory-fit-out-pricing) - [Visual Management Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/visual-management-product-pricing) - [Case Studies](https://clarity-safety.com/case-studies) - [Learning Hub](https://clarity-safety.com/learning-centre) Show submenu for Learning Hub - [Gallery](https://clarity-safety.com/gallery) - [About us](https://clarity-safety.com/about-us) Show submenu for About us - [Our Team](https://clarity-safety.com/meet-the-team) - [Planet First - Our ESG strategy](https://clarity-safety.com/claritys-esg-strategy-helping-you-reduce-your-carbon-footprint) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Services](https://clarity-safety.com/visual-factory-fit-out) Show submenu for Services - [Polymer Barriers](https://clarity-safety.com/polymer-safety-barriers) - [Floor Marking LED Projectors](https://clarity-safety.com/led-projected-floor-markings) - [Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/visual_management_products) - [Warehouse Safety Audit](https://clarity-safety.com/warehouse-safety-audit-uk-forklift-pedestrian-risk-review) - [Consulting & Training](https://clarity-safety.com/consulting-training) - [Testing](https://clarity-safety.com/barriers-testing) - [Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/factory-fit-out-pricing) Show submenu for Pricing - [Fit Out Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/factory-fit-out-pricing) - [Visual Management Pricing](https://clarity-safety.com/visual-management-product-pricing) - [Case Studies](https://clarity-safety.com/case-studies) - [Learning Hub](https://clarity-safety.com/learning-centre) Show submenu for Learning Hub - [Gallery](https://clarity-safety.com/gallery) - [About us](https://clarity-safety.com/about-us) Show submenu for About us - [Our Team](https://clarity-safety.com/meet-the-team) - [Planet First - Our ESG strategy](https://clarity-safety.com/claritys-esg-strategy-helping-you-reduce-your-carbon-footprint) - [Get in touch](https://clarity-safety.com/contact-us) [Get in touch](https://clarity-safety.com/contact-us) [All posts](https://clarity-safety.com/learning-centre/all) August 30, 2024 # 5S Magnetic Overlays – What Are They and How Do You Use Them? ![Picture of Alana Graham](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alana.png?width=50&name=Alana.png) By  Alana Graham  ·  2 minute read 5S Magnetic Overlays – What Are They and How Do You Use Them? 3:14 ## The 5S Magnetic Overlay [![5S magnetic Overlay - Clarity Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/BASF-5S-Notice-Board-344x226.jpg?width=344&height=226&name=BASF-5S-Notice-Board-344x226.jpg)](https://www.clarityvisualmanagement.com/shop/product/5s-board-bespoke/)   ## What is a 5S Magnetic Overlay? It looks great, doesn’t it? But what actually is it? 5S is the cornerstone of any Lean program, but the hardest part of it is the final ‘S’, **Sustain**. This board is specifically devised to help your company sustain 5S for the long-term.   ## How to Use your 5S Magnetic overlay After you have completed the first 3 steps in the 5S program and have organised your key work areas, take a picture of them and put them in the visual standards section. [![5S Visual Standards - Clarity Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5S-visual-standards-344x231.jpg?width=344&height=231&name=5S-visual-standards-344x231.jpg)](https://clarity-safety.com/learning-centre/2019/01/09/It%20looks%20great,%20doesn’t%20it?%20But%20what%20actually%20is%20it?%205S%20is%20a%20big%20part%20of%20any%20lean%20programme,%20but%20the%20hardest%20part%20of%20it%20is%20the%20final%20S,%20Sustain.%20This%20board%20is%20specifically%20devised%20to%20help%20your%20company%20sustain%20it’s%205S.%20After%20you%20have%20organised%20your%20key%20work%20areas%20you%20take%20a%20picture%20of%20them%20and%20put%20them%20in%20the%20visual%20standards%20section.) ![5S House Keeping - Clarity Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5s-house-keeping-344x476.jpg?width=254&height=351&name=5s-house-keeping-344x476.jpg) This is the **‘standardise**’ part of the program and will allow the entire team to visually see the standards you have set for that work area. Every day the person in charge of the board should check the area against the picture. If it meets or is higher than the expected standard, it is coloured green, is given a tick, or has a green magnet placed next to the picture in the box provided. You would then colour the corresponding day in blue or green. If the area does not meet the expected standard a cross is placed next to the box and the day is coloured in red. [![5S Key - Clarityvisualmanagement.com](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5s-key-344x38.jpg?width=344&height=38&name=5s-key-344x38.jpg)](https://www.clarityvisualmanagement.com/shop/product/5s-board-bespoke/)   This will allow you to quickly see if there is a particular trend when the standard is not met and to find the solution. For instance, is it frequently red when it is a particular person’s shift, or around a busy time of the month? A red should then trigger an entry in the improvements or suggestion column. [![5S example of improvements - Clarity Visual Management](https://clarity-safety.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5s-improvements-wirds-344x106.jpg?width=344&height=106&name=5s-improvements-wirds-344x106.jpg)](https://www.clarityvisualmanagement.com/shop/product/5s-board-bespoke/)   For instance, if an area failed to meet the standard because a bin wasn’t emptied you would write the following. The initial section encourages someone to take ownership of the action, which can be then marked as done or whipped off when completed. This **visual management magnetic overlay** is made to be simple and easy to use whilst motivating your team to keep the work area to the standards you have set. This also allows any manager to walk in and instantly see the status of the 5S program and issue rewards or actions for improvement as they see fit. The magnetic overlay will simply attach to any magnetic whiteboard allowing you to easily remove and put up as you see fit. This offers fantastic versatility to your visual management program. If you are implementing a 5S program in your workplace, invest in your very own 5S overlay to ensure you can sustain the program. We can print these in accordance with your own brand guidelines and requirements so that it fits in with your needs.   ## Clarity, making Lean work… Here at **Clarity** , we consult with clients both far and wide about how they can use **visual management to achieve their goals, exceed their targets and make financial savings** which would otherwise be lost to waste. We work with our clients to create a bespoke strategy that ensures visual management is set up for success before providing specific, high-quality Lean products to sustain the visual management program and make Lean work in the organisation long-term. You can read more about the work we’ve undertaken with our clients by browsing through our [Visual Management Case Studies](https://clarity-safety.com/case-studies). Download our [Product Buyer's Guide](https://clarity-safety.com/hubfs/Brochures/Clarity%20Buyers%20Guide%20-%20Product.pdf) if you’re unfamiliar with Clarity and want to learn a little more about our products and services. 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