What this checklist covers
The 5S Audit Scoring Checklist is a 15-point scorecard for scoring criteria, area-wise rating, photo evidence, non- compliance tracking, and improvement trends. Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on what the auditor sees on the day, and every gap goes into an action plan with an owner and a close date.
AutoSmart tip: 5S audit scoring is only as useful as the consistency of its application. Before each audit cycle, review the scoring criteria with the auditor against a reference example area — ensuring the score given reflects the defined standard rather than the auditor’s memory of what previous scores looked like. Scoring drift over time (where average scores gradually inflate without real improvement) is the most common failure of mature 5S programmes.
The checks
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Scoring criteria and area-wise rating
- Is a documented scoring criteria in place for 5S audits, defining what constitutes each score level (1–5) in objective, observable terms — not left to auditor interpretation?
- Is the 5S audit conducted area by area, with a separate score per zone rather than a single facility-wide score that masks underperforming areas?
- Are scoring criteria applied consistently by all auditors, with inter-rater calibration conducted periodically to minimise scoring variance between different observers?
- Is the audit conducted on an unannounced or semi-announced basis, ensuring scores reflect actual working conditions rather than pre- prepared compliance?
Photo evidence and non-compliance tracking
- Are photographs taken of all non-compliant findings during the audit, providing before evidence that can be compared against after- correction photos at closure?
- Are photos labelled with zone, date, and finding description — not filed as a generic batch of unmarked images — supporting clear traceability?
- Is every non-compliance finding recorded in a structured format (zone, criterion, score, description, photo reference) rather than as narrative notes only?
- Are non-compliance findings from the current audit compared against the previous audit, to identify whether prior findings have been sustained or have recurred?
Responsible person assignment
- Is a named responsible person assigned for each non-compliance finding at the time of the audit, not deferred to a later administrative process?
- Is the responsible person someone with authority to implement the correction in their zone, not a generic assignment to a department or team?
- Is the responsible person informed of their assignment on the day of the audit, with a due date set before they leave the audit debrief?
Improvement trend and governance
- Is 5S audit score trended over time per zone, allowing management to see whether scores are improving, stable, or declining across audit cycles?
- Are zones with declining or stagnant scores reviewed in the management meeting, with root cause identified rather than accepting poor performance as a fixed characteristic of that area?
- Is 5S audit performance shared with zone staff — not only reviewed at management level — so the team understands their score and is motivated to improve it?
- Are high-scoring zones recognised, creating a positive reinforcement mechanism that balances the corrective focus of non- compliance tracking?
How to run it
How the scoring works
Before the visit, fill in the dealer or centre, the auditor, the date and the audit cycle. Then score each of the 15 checks from 1 to 5 on what you see on the day, not on what the site aims for, and add them up out of 75.
- 1Not in place
- 2Attempted
- 3Defined
- 4Managed
- 5Fully sustained
- Green60–75 · 80–100%Compliant. Keep the standard.
- Amber38–59 · 50–79%Improvement needed: a structured action plan within 30 days.
- Red0–37 · Below 50%Priority intervention, escalated to regional management.
Then close every gap
Each gap goes into the action plan tracker and moves through four stages until the auditor closes it.
- 1PendingOwner and close date set
- 2In progressWork under way, evidence gathered
- 3CompletedEvidence submitted for review
- 4ApprovedVerified and closed by the auditor
