Continuous Improvement with Kaizen
Continuous improvement focused on how the flow of value requires both scientific thinking and the capacity to identify and eliminate waste. The most essential precondition for improvement is the pursuit of clear and agreed goals: make things better, faster, cheaper, create more meaning in our work and leave a healthier environmental footprint.
Kaizen is the Japanese word for continuous improvement using small, incremental changes. It translates as change for the better. When applied to the workplace Kaizen means continuous improvement involving everyone, managers and workers alike, every day, providing structure to process
improvement.
We identify two types of Kaizen: Daily Kaizen and Improvement Kaizen. Daily Kaizen focuses on carrying out small improvements daily that are aimed at making work simpler, quicker or more pleasant. Generally, the problems solved are uncomplicated, but cause waste in the value stream. Improvement Kaizen deals with larger problems for which more research needs to be done. Improvement Kaizen is carried out in Kaizen Events.