5S Shadow Boards
Physical visual support for Set in Order and established workplace standards. A 5S shadow board gives tools and equipment defined locations and makes the expected arrangement visible.
Overview
5S Shadow Boards for the way your team works
Within a 5S programme, a shadow board is a practical visual system that supports Set in Order: every tool and piece of equipment has a defined location, shown by a silhouette, label or holder. The expected arrangement becomes visible, so abnormal conditions are easier to recognise.
A shadow board is one part of the workplace system. It supports the visual standard your team maintains; it does not, by itself, create or sustain a complete 5S programme.
Design details
Built around the small things that save real time
Set in Order
Defined locations, point-of-use organisation, visible identification and easier return of tools.
Standardise
Consistent labels, colours and replicated layouts can support common workplace standards across areas.
Sustain
Clear visual positions make abnormal conditions easier to recognise during the checks and routines your team runs.
Visual control
The expected condition is visible at a glance, so differences from that condition stand out.
Materials and options
Specified for your environment, not off the shelf
Every option below is a decision we walk you through at quoting stage. You choose what matters for your audit, your washdown routine and your budget, and we do the rest.
| 5S step | Most directly supports Set in Order; supports Standardise and Sustain where mechanisms are clear |
| Board formats | Wall-mounted, freestanding or mobile, single or double sided |
| Visual cues | Silhouettes, labels, holders, colour coding and asset identification |
| Scale | Single board, complete work area or facility-wide standard |
Where it performs best
Common applications across Australian sites
5S rollouts
Boards built to the workplace standard as part of a structured 5S programme.
Workplace standards
Consistent layouts and labels across work areas and sites.
Visual management
Expected conditions made visible for routine checks and handovers.
Lean work areas
Defined tool locations that support organised, repeatable work practices.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Australian maintenance, quality and operations teams.
Have a different question? Call 1300 089 353 or send it through the contact form. Every enquiry is answered directly.
How does a shadow board support 5S?
A shadow board supports Set in Order by creating defined locations and making the expected arrangement visible. Consistent layouts and labels can also support Standardise, while visibility supports routine checks used to Sustain the standard.
Does a shadow board create a complete 5S programme?
No. A shadow board is a visual system that supports 5S. The management routines, accountability and discipline required to run a complete 5S programme remain part of the customer’s wider system.
Can 5S boards be replicated across work areas?
Yes. Approved layouts, labels and visual conventions can be replicated across work areas or sites to support a consistent standard.
How do 5S shadow boards differ from other shadow boards?
The board itself works the same way. What differs is the context: a 5S shadow board is configured to support Set in Order and the visual standards of an established 5S programme.
5S and visual management
Where shadow boards fit within 5S
5S is a structured method for workplace organisation and a core practice of lean management. Shadow boards support the visual element of it: defined locations, visible expected conditions and easier recognition of abnormal states. The management routines that maintain the standard remain part of your wider system.
1
Set in Order
The board creates defined locations and point-of-use organisation.
2
Standardise
Consistent labels, colours and layouts support common standards.
3
Sustain
Visibility supports routine checks; your management routines maintain the standard.