Kaizen - Basics
Kaizen is a Japanese word, which means gradual,
orderly and continuous improvement with minimal investment.
Kaizen is an ongoing process focusing on elimination of
wastes in all systems of an organization.
Two Elements
of KAIZEN
Improvement\change for the better and ongoing\
continuity are the two elements that construct Kaizen. Absence
of one of the element would not be Kaizen. For example,
the expression ”business as usual” contains continuity but
not improvement where as “breakthrough” includes change
or improvement but not continuity. KAIZEN should contain
both the elements.
Maintenance, Innovation and Kaizen.
These three functions should occur in an organization simultaneously.
Maintenance refers to smooth functioning
of current status, setting up of procedures and implementation
of standards. Usually the lower level people of organization
are responsible for maintenance.
Innovations are breakthrough activities such
as, buying new machines, equipments developing new markets,
directing R&D.
KAIZEN is an intermittent function involving
small steps but with continuous betterment. Lower/middle
management and workers, with encouragement and direction
from the top management, should implement it.
Japanese KAIZEN activities whether individual
or group, veer round the following themes.
The belief held by the Japanese management is that managers
should spend 50% of their time in making improvements. The
starting point of KAIZEN is identifying waste.The management
should primarily focus on:
Therefore Kaizen is an involved leadership that guides people
to continuously improve their ability to meet expectations
of high quality, low cost, and on-time delivery.
