Successful Implementation of Kaizen Strategy

7 Conditions

 

  

 
 

What is Kaizen?

Kaizen means "improvement".

Kaizen strategy calls for never-ending efforts for improvement involving everyone in the organization – managers and workers alike.

   Kaizen Vadim Kotelnikov Kaizen Mindset Suggestion Systems Techniques for Fast Evaluation of Ideas Quality Control Circles Be the Best Possible Kaizen Implementation Principles Kaizen Implemkentation Continuous Improvement Firm (CIF) Continuous Improvement Kaizen Principles - 5 Principles of Japanese Continuous Imprvement Strategies and Management

 

 
   

Keep in Mind

 

  

 
Kaikaku Kaizen Synergy - radical plus incremental improvements  

"Kaizen" means quite different things in Japan and the West.

In Japan, "kaizen" is a journey that focuses on people – it calls to start any improvement with yourself and then improve everything around you.

In the West, "kaizen" is narrowly focused on improving processes.

  

 

 

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7 Conditions of Successful Implementation of Kaizen Strategy

 

  

 
 

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

Masaaki Imai, the author of the Kaizen book, lists the 7 conditions of successful implementation of Kaizen strategy.

They are:

① Top management commitment

② Top management commitment

③ Top management commitment

④ Setting up an organization dedicated to promote Kaizen

⑤ Appointing the best available personnel to manage the Kaizen process

⑥ Conducting training and education

⑦ Establishing a step-by-step process for Kaizen introduction.

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

  

 
 

The Challenged To Be Addressed

When a company introduces something new, such as revolutionary improvements, 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 is because the company lacks the first three most important conditions for the successful introduction and implementation of Kaizen strategy:

① Top management commitment

② Top management commitment

③ Top management commitment

Top Management Commitment

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.

  

Kaizen

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Quick and Easy Kaizen

Kaizen Implementation

Kaizen Practices

Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing

Kaizen and Innovation

Glossary of Kaizen Terms

Kaizen and TQM

Barriers to TQM

  

 

 

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Examples

 

  

 
Kaizen - Japanese Continuous Improvement Strategy  

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 to solve the problems.

  

 
 

Factories are advised not to hold meetings during this 30-minute period, and foremen should not even answer the telephone then.

  

Japanese Suggestion System

  

 
6Ws of the Kaizen Wheel  

Fidelity Investments

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

  

 

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