Order
A place for everything and everything in its place

Six common reasons to excuse disorder: by Roger Pickens
 1. "Lately we've had so much work that we haven't had time to stop and clean up."

When a workplace is in disorder, the time needed to look for what you need to work on is often longer than the time needed to do the job.

2. "Well, we would like to clean up around here but we just don't have enough space to put everything in its place."

Lack of space is directly proportional to the degree of disorder. Ten items in a disorderly shop can take up more room than one hundred in an orderly shop.

3. "We just don't have the manpower for good housekeeping."

If no one created disorder, no one would have to clean it up, and work would go much smoother. Henry Ford once said, "The man who keeps himself and his tools clean is apt to do things well. Dirt is always evidence of waste."

4. "I've got too many more important things to do around here than to worry about housekeeping."

Harry Myers said "Order is the first step in doing anything RIGHT, and if you cannot manage the order of your department, you cannot manage your department."

5. "Cleaning up is janitor's work!"

Order isn’t the work of janitors. Janitors remove dirt and trash; they do not decide what is necessary, see that things are where they should be to prevent disorder. Preventing disorder is the responsibility of every worker and every manager.

6. "We can't afford to clean up."

You cannot afford not to! Nothing wastes the essentials of production time, materials, space and manpower like disorder. Dirt, disorder and all that go with them cause waste, inefficiency and failure. They create untidy work habits and low morale. They can drive any business under!

PRACTICAL GOLDEN RULES
To maintain order and safety

If you open it, close it.
If you use it, take care of it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you unlock it, lock it.
If you move it, put it back.

If you break it, and you are given permission, repair it.
If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission.

If you should not repair it, report it to the proper person.
If you are not authorized to operate it, leave it alone.

If you borrow it, return it.
If it does not concern you, do not interfere with it.