Kaizen

Kaizen is an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap significant improvements.

10 principles of Kaizen

Because executing Kaizen requires enabling the right mindset throughout a company, 10 principles that address the Kaizen mindset are commonly referenced as core to the philosophy. They are:

• Let go of assumptions.
• Be proactive about solving problems.
• Don't accept the status quo.
• Let go of perfectionism and take an attitude of iterative, adaptive change.
• Look for solutions as you find mistakes.
• Create an environment in which everyone feels empowered to contribute.
• Don't accept the obvious issue; instead, ask "why" five times to get to the root cause.
• Cull information and opinions from multiple people.
• Use creativity to find low-cost, small improvements.
• Never stop improving.

Kaizen cycle for continuous improvement

Kaizen can be implemented in a seven-step cycle to create an environment based on continuous improvement. This systematic method includes the following steps:

• Get employees involved.
• Find problems.
• Create a solution.
• Test the solution.
• Analyze the results.
• If results are positive, adopt the solution throughout the organization.
• Repeat

Kaizen Blitz

A Kaizen Blitz is a rapid, intensive activity or event that attacks a specific problem with overwhelming resources to rapidly come to a solution.

A Kaizen Blitz is the organized use of team knowledge that can improve all aspects of your organization. Such an event assembles cross-functional teams aimed at improving a process or problem identified within a specific area. You can use a Kaizen Blitz in the following situations:

• When obvious problems have been identified but no known solutions exist.
• When the scope and boundaries of a problem are clearly defined and relatively narrow in scope.
• When results are needed in the short term.
• In the early stages of a project to gain momentum and build credibility.