One of the biggest costs of making your own 5S shadow board is time. Between sourcing materials, designing, and building the boards, you could end up spending a significant amount of hours that could otherwise be used for higher-priority tasks.
A common question we hear is, “Should I make my own 5S shadow board for my food processing plant?” It's a fair question since the 5S process basically requires a deep look into your operations: you’ll need to assess what tools and materials you have, where they belong, and whether they’re still useful. Once you have those answers, it comes down to one big question: is it really a good idea to build 5S shadow boards yourself?
The Costs of DIY 5S Shadow Boards
One of the biggest costs of making your own 5S shadow board is time. Between sourcing materials, designing, and building the boards, you could end up spending a significant amount of hours that could otherwise be used for higher-priority tasks. For food processing plants, where sanitation and safety are critical, can you really afford to spend that time on creating a board instead of maintaining productivity and cleanliness, building your 5S process, and your many other responsibilities? Is there really a strong ROI in building your own boards?
You should also consider the material costs: Will the board components you choose be durable enough to withstand the harsh cleaning processes of a food facility, including chemicals, steam, and high-pressure washes? You’ll need to invest in quality supplies. Not just money, but likely time—materials can take days or weeks to source. Low-quality components might not hold up to day-to-day wear and tear like cleaning involving steam, hot water, strong chemicals, alkalines, caustics, acids, etc. Many DIY boards can flake, peel, or become contamination risks over time, which is the last thing you want in a food plant.
Besides contamination dangers, a homemade board is less likely to look professional, clean, and uniform across departments and facilities. Can you ensure your brand colors are consistent across all of the boards you make in-house (it seems easier than it is)? When you equip your teams with good-looking, well-made shadow boards, they will be more likely to take care of them—just like a shiny new car. A professional 5S shadow board encourages employees to maintain the standards of cleanliness and organization.
Lastly, consider the size of your organization. Whatever time you spend on assessing the shadow board needs, buying materials, and constructing each board is multiplied by however many different departments and facilities you’re responsible for. Even a little time and money per board mounts up quickly.
Professional 5S Shadow Boards Offer Long-Term Value
When you buy a professionally made 5S shadow board, you’re not just buying a product—you’re buying expertise. This expertise cuts costs, saves time, increases productivity, and reduces risk. A good supplier can provide samples of different materials so you can test them against your facility’s cleaning methods. You’ll get a board made from materials that will last, keeping your workplace safe and compliant.
Additionally, a professional shadow board looks much better and more organized than a DIY version. It’s simple: a professional board has years of research and testing behind it. When tools are stored on a well-designed board, employees are more likely to keep the area clean and organized.
Using a professional team also means you can incorporate branding, color coding, and other visual aids that make your boards even more effective and visually appealing. An expertly designed 5S shadow board system ensures consistency, durability, and ease of installation—without eating up your team’s time.
And while your professional boards are much less likely to fail, if something does happen you have someone to fall back on. For example, Amerisan is proud of our customer-first culture.
Conclusion
Building your own 5S shadow board might seem like a cost-saving measure at first, but the time, risk, and potential sanitation challenges usually make it a poor investment. Working with a professional supplier like Amerisan ensures you get a durable, long-lasting solution that keeps your plant organized, safe, and efficient.
By working with experts, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and get the best ROI for your investment. Don't reinvent the wheel—let us equip you with a better 5S shadow board today.
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About the Author
Kevin Boyt, COO of Amerisan, has consulted with hundreds of food processors, and understands the challenges they face when implementing 5S systems. Amerisan has refined our shadow boards over the years based on customers feedback. We are constantly creating solutions that stand the test of time.
Kevin wrote this blog deriving from his passion for 5S shadow boards and their impact on food processing facilities. Feel free to reach out— we’d love to help you build a safer, more organized facility.