BUACC3714 - Kaizen

What Is Kaizen? By Joel Bradbury

As a lean manufacturing tool Kaizen improves quality, productivity, safety, and workplace culture. This occurs by applying small daily changes that yield major improvements over time. Kaizen first surfaced during the effort to rebuild Japan after World War II. Several U.S. business consultants collaborated with Japanese companies to improve manufacturing. The result was the development of several new management techniques, including Kaizen.

Kaizen comes from two Japanese words: Kai (improvement) and Zen (good). Over time, it became known as “continuous improvement.” Unlike many business practices Kaizen’s strength comes from requiring all workers—from the CEO to the shop floor assistant—to contribute suggestions to improve the business.

How Does Lean Kaizen Work?

Kaizen works by reducing waste (muda) and eliminating work processes that are overly difficult (muri). As a lean business practice, Kaizen succeeds when all employees look for areas to improve and provide suggestions based on their observations and experience.

From the beginning, it must be clear that all suggestions are welcome and that there will be no negative consequences for participating. Instead, employees are rewarded for changes that improve the workplace. Workers become more confident and invested in improving the company. They become leaders that continually look for areas that can be improved.