Improving records management in brilliant seas shipping: An action research using the 5S system

• Main Author: Maambong, Sherwin Cary T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/4761
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippine seafaring industry has created thousands of employment opportunities for marine officers, ratings and service providers. Filipinos account for 28% of all seafarers on-board all international merchant marine shipping from 19% in 1995 (Philippine Maritime Opportunities and Prospects, 2013). As the demand for more seafarers increase, so are their documents and records in accordance with industry standards that are required for employment. Manning agencies, whose purpose is to recruit, process and deploy seafarers on-board ships, are faced with various changes in dealing with seafarer records management. The dilemma of having an organized records management system presents itself as a challenge that agencies need to develop. This insider action research tackles the improvement of records management of Brilliant Seas Shipping Corporation. Data gathering was done through triangulation of observations, interviews and review of company procedures. The use the 5S system as a tool in quality management serves as the conceptual framework in which this action research is basing its improvement of records management. This paper tackles one action research cycle of Constructing, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation that ends in the intervention of the 5S blitzkrieg. The result of the intervention has proven that the use of the 5S System as a tool in organizing crew documents and records was effective and that further cycles of the action research would provide positive long-term results. Through the 5S intervention, the action researcher has developed his management and organizational skills in dealing with documents, records and the members of the company, as a researcher, manager and as a Lasallian.