Brandix Trains Schools on 5S

The Brandix CSR Centre, the Community Development arm of the Brandix Group held a one-day awareness programme on the 5S system at the Brandix Centre of Inspiration at Ekala recently. The gathering of over 150 from across the country included students, teachers and principals of selected schools and Provincial Education Directors. The 5S system is a series of activities designed to improve organisations and create discipline, leading to improved efficiency and productivity. It is a Japanese general house keeping methodology used extensively in industry and which is versatile enough to be adapted by schools and other institutions to yield similar benefits.

The primary objective of the workshop was for the participants to initiate the programme in their respective schools in which Brandix has implemented water and sanitation projects. The rationale being that the 5S programme would support the sustainability of the projects thus undertaken. In addition the representatives were encouraged to adopt the principles to their own lives, families and communities for personal development.

Lal Fonseka, Productivity Resultant, Brandix Lanka Limited conducted the interactive workshop, by introducing the 5S programme and its value to the audience. This was followed by a session on the application of Kaizen and Quality Circles.

“Through the incorporation of these values into the school system, it becomes easier to create an environment conducive to learning. Schools involved in this programme are encouraged to remove all unnecessary items within the premises, to set limits and create order within their schools, to keep the environment clean, to ensure that all items are labeled and coordinated” said Mr. Fonseka. “To make this programme a success hands on training and involvement of teachers and students is imperative” he added.

Hilary Thiagarajah, Environment Research Engineering Manager, Brandix Finishing Limited speaking on the initiative, said, “We believe that the implementation of the 5S programme is the best method to help maintain the facilities we have provided to the schools, which are mainly water and sanitation related. In order to sustain these in a school, we have to provide a mechanism, by which the users will learn and maintain the facilities we have provided through our projects.”

“In addition we are also improving the overall productivity in the schools. 5S is a housekeeping methodology, which can be applied to any area – industry, school or household. We are creating awareness on this today so that the participants will carry it to their schools and communities and implement it,” he added.

The participants included those from the Pannala National School - Pannala, Dombagoda Maha Vidyalaya - Ahangama, Mitipola Vidyalaya - Ehilyagoda, Kalawana Junior School - Minuwangoda, Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya - Mulleriyawa, Telawela School - Ratmalana, Keerihena Primary School - Deraniyagala, Kibulapitiya School - Katunayake and Gajanayake Maha Vidyalaya - Kahawatte.

January 17, 2007