Efficiency

CIF

 

Successful Implementation of Kaizen Strategy

7 Conditions

 

Adapted from Kaizen, Masaaki Imai

 

 

The Seven Conditions

  1. Top management commitment

  2. Top management commitment

  3. Top management commitment

  1. Setting up an organization dedicated to promote Kaizen

  1. Appointing the best available personnel to manage the Kaizen process

  2. Conducting training and education

  3. Establishing a step-by-step process for Kaizen introduction.

 

The Problem Addressed

One of the most difficult aspects of introducing and implementing Kaizen strategy is assuring its continuity.

When a company introduces something new, such as quality circles, or total quality management (TQM), it experiences some initial success, but soon such success disappear like fireworks on summer night and after a while nothing is left, and management keeps looking for a new flavor of the month.  >>>

This if because the company lacks the first three most important conditions for the successful introduction and implementation of Kaizen strategy:

❶ Top management commitment

❷ Top management commitment

❸ Top management commitment

Top Management Commitment

All conditions are important. Without top management supporting every move, however, the trial will be short-lived regardless of other preconditions.

Top management may express commitment in many different ways, and it must take every opportunity to:

  • preach the message,

  • become personally involved in following up the progress of Kaizen, and

  • allocate resources for successful implementation.

Case Studies Fidelity Investments

Fidelity’s practice of Kaizen began with the company’s Chairman and CEO, Edward C. Johnson III. A long-time student of eastern philosophy and religion, Johnson became interested in Japanese management practices and discovered Kaizen... More

Case Studies  Kaizen Time at Canon

In some Canon plants, the foremen are told to set aside the half-hour as Kaizen time – time to do nothing but thinking improvement in the workshop. The foremen use this period to identify problems and work on Kaizen programs. Factories are advised not to hold meetings during this 30-minute period, and foremen should not even answer the telephone then... More

        

 

Mahatma Gandhi advice quotes

It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity

Mahatma Gandhi

 

Edward Deming advice quotes

What should be the aim of management?  Quality is the responsibility of the top people. Its origin is in the boardroom.

Edward Deming

Jeff Bezos story lessons quotes

It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.

Jeff Bezos

Amazon