Introduction
Kaizen, a Japanese word for “Continuous Improvement” is used in business processes indicating that there’s always room for improvement. The word Kaizen is divided into two parts. ‘Kai’ meaning ‘change’ and ‘zen’ meaning ‘good’. The textbook definition would be, there should be the change for better or continuous improvement in the business process. Kaizen is one of the most implemented techniques to improve business services and provide a better customer experience. The Toyota Production System in Japan is well-known for the implementation of Kaizen to bring the production process in one line.
Functioning
Kaizen works on the PDCA cycle. The meaning of PDCA is Plan – Do – Check – Act cycle. This is also known as the Sherwart Cycle. PDCA could also stand for Problem Finding – Display – Clear – Acknowledge. Maasaki Imai made Kaizen famous in his book, Key to Japan’s Competitive Success.
The key objective of Kaizen has always been to make small staggered changes over time. It is believed that big changes cannot take place suddenly as it would harm the system. The lean transformation of Kaizen focuses on a gradual increase in the quality of the products. The theory of Kaizen claims to use the PDCA cycle in every operation.
Most of the time, it is observed that businesses lack optimal efficiency. Using Kaizen, it’s proven that there will be a gradual improvement in the operation efficiency. Kaizen also focuses on the standardized procedure where every function needs to meet the set standards.
Kaizen Approach
Kaizen is a simple approach but many times companies tend to make mistakes. Kaizen is a statistical approach that helps companies avoid small errors that turn into big mistakes. In the Kaizen approach, there is an open-ended discussion among the managers and employees to come up with an optimal solution to the problem
Kaizen also uses the grassroots approach, where the solutions are implemented directly to the main cause. In Kaizen, there is no perfect way of operation, everything has room for improvement and such an improvement must be done over some time
If we deep dive, Kaizen is based on six pillars:
- Teamwork – Growing as a team
- Personal Discipline – Staying in Order
- Improved Morale – Standardized methods
- Quality Circles – Surrounding ourselves with like-minded peopleli>
- Suggestions for Improvements – Always looking for improvement in every small process
KITO Corporation
KITO Corporation could be the greatest example of implementing Kaizen in their daily business process. We strongly believe that the adaptation of Kaizen in our operations helped us become the world leader in the material handling equipment process. The success of Kito fully goes to the use of two pillars of Kaizen for many years. They believed in constant key ideas for change and teamwork in every industry they are operating.
Now, KITO is fully operational in various countries across the globe like Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Finland, Netherlands & Australia.
Conclusion
Kaizen is truly a wonderful approach to enhance your business profits as well as improve your corporate strength and work efficiency in the long run.