FAQs on 5S Certification Scheme

1. What are the benefits of 5S Certification?

The 5S Certification Scheme by the National Productivity Council (NPC) recognises an organisation's commitment to workplace excellence and continuous improvement. Certified organisations gain significant advantages:

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlines processes by eliminating waste and optimising resource utilisation.
Stronger Work Culture: Fosters a clean, safe, and organised workplace that boosts morale and accountability.
Elevated Market Reputation: Reflects a professional, quality-driven image that attracts customers and partners.
Stakeholder Confidence: Reinforces trust among employees, customers, and investors.
Accelerated Business Growth: Opens doors to new business opportunities and strengthens competitive positioning.
Actionable Management Insights: Identifies process gaps and improvement areas for sustained operational excellence.

2. Is this scheme limited to manufacturing industries?

No. The 5S Certification Scheme is universally applicable — across government and private sectors, manufacturing and service industries, as well as office-based and field operations.

3. Can an organisation directly apply for the certification audit?

Yes, if your organisation has already implemented 5S practices, you can apply directly for the certification audit.

4. How is the scoring conducted during a 5S audit?

Evaluation is conducted using a detailed checklist across various workplace areas, scored on a scale of 0 to 5:

Scoring Table
Score	Evaluation Criteria
0	5S system is completely absent.
0.1 - 1	Initial stage, not practised, low employee awareness.
1.1 - 2	Partial implementation, limited understanding.
2.1 - 3	Active implementation, basic understanding among staff.
3.1 - 4	Widely practised, documented procedures in place.
4.1 - 4.9	Efficient, consistent practice with specialisation.
5	Exemplary implementation with deep understanding at all levels.

5. Does the audit include implementation support?

No. However, the audit report will include customised suggestions for improvement.

6. How to apply for 5S Certification?

Follow these steps:

Visit the NPC portal.
Register your organisation on the NPC portal.
Submit the required information and location for audit.
NPC's regional office will provide a proposal based on your location.
Upon acceptance and fee payment, an audit will be scheduled.
After the audit, download your audit report and certificate from the website.
Hard copy of the certificate will be dispatched to your address.

7. What is the fee structure for 5S Certification?

The fee structure is based on the audit area, categorised as:

Factory Area: External spaces such as entry gates, signage, gardens, roads, etc.
General Areas: Reception, restrooms, meeting rooms, cafeteria, and similar facilities.
Laboratories: QC labs, ETP labs, etc.
Storage Areas: Warehouses and material storage areas (excluding open storage).
Production Areas: Shop floors, machinery zones, DCS zones, etc.
Office Areas: Administrative and office spaces.

8. How long does the certification process take?

Registration Acknowledgment: Issued online.
Proposal Submission: Within 10 working days of registration.
Post-Proposal Acceptance: Work order issuance and audit fee payment.
Audit Scheduling: Within 30 working days on a mutually agreed date.
Audit Report: Within 10 working days post audit.
Certificate Issuance: Two physical copies and one digital certificate available for download.

9. What if our unit doesn't meet the minimum qualifying score?

NPC will not issue a certificate. However, an audit report with zone-wise scores and improvement recommendations will be provided.

10. What is the validity of the 5S Certificate?

The certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue, subject to the surveillance audits during that period.

11. What are the certification categories under which the certificate is issued?

Sl. No.	Category	Score obtained
1	“प्रदर्शक”	99% and above
2	“उत्कृष्ट”	90% and above but less than 99%
3	“श्रेष्ठ”	80% and above but less than 90%
4	“उत्तम”	70% and above but less than 80%
5	“प्रयत्नशील”	50% and above but less than 70%

12. What does the 5S Certificate look like?

The certificate features the National Emblem, Make in India logo, NPC logo, and displays your organisation's 5S category. It includes the certificate number, issue date, expiry date, and can be digitally verified through a QR code.