Sōji: Daily Cleaning as a Form of Respect

Soji: Daily Cleaning as a Form of Respect

Soji: Daily cleaning as a form of respect. This is such a deep topic, and basically what Soji means for us, or the way I’m going to describe it, is that when we are keeping things clean, when we’re doing Paul Akers’ 3S or the full 5S (sort, straighten, and sweep/shine), that habit is pregnant with meaning. It’s absolutely phenomenal. If you’re interested in how this could change your organization, company, or project site, then stay with me on this blog.

Sōji Concept

Soji: having something clean or removing waste through 3S or 5S is crucial. Cleanliness is the base for everything. In Japan, I learned that “Sort” means removing what you don’t need, “Straighten” means organizing what you have, and “Sweep/Shine” means cleaning so you can now see clearly, remove friction, and manage your environment. When your environment is clean, you can identify constraints or bottlenecks, as Eliyahu Goldratt describes in The “Goal”.

Individual Habits

On an individual level, if we have the habit of cleaning ourselves and not delegating it to someone else, our brain is wired to be organized and thoughtful. Our truck, speech, relationships, hygiene, and health will reflect this discipline. How we do one thing is how we do everything.

Impact

Cleaning also reduces the “cowboy” attitude, the rogue, arrogant mentality and replaces it with humility and willingness to contribute. At DPR Construction, when I personally taught orientation attendees how to clean bathrooms, the site was always immaculate, free of graffiti, and organized. That culture of cleanliness transformed the social group and instilled pride and respect.

Cleanliness Culture

In Japan, children clean their schools and even enjoy it, turning it into a fun activity. Parents participate monthly, creating a culture of respect and responsibility. This demonstrates how cleaning fosters community, discipline, and engagement.

Key Concept

Cleanliness is crucial for detecting safety issues, morale problems, quality issues, and schedule bottlenecks. A clean environment allows you to see problems clearly, remember, problems are not a problem. Lean improvements start with cleaning first, then identifying and addressing small issues. Soji is the foundation of culture, human programming, and respect.

Challenge

How can you achieve not just an acceptable level of cleanliness, but a perfectly clean site? Morning worker huddles, foreman guidance, and daily practice can make this achievable on any construction site, regardless of size or location.

Japanese Culture & Waste Management

In Japan, there are almost no public trash cans; everyone carries their own trash and cleans up diligently. Their incineration plants manage waste efficiently, producing minimal pollution, and costing only $100 per person per year. Their attention to cleanliness and waste reduction is exemplary and shows us that organizing and respecting our environment has massive downstream effects.

Benefits

Adopting Soji in construction leads to safer, more organized, and more efficient sites. It reduces friction, increases morale, improves workflow, and instills respect for workers and the environment. This approach minimizes waste and ensures every process runs smoothly.

Conclusion

The question is: how can you run a remarkably clean, safe, and organized site? Start with Soji, make cleaning a daily habit, and watch your projects, teams, and overall work culture transform.