Thursday 28 January 2016

Kaizen – Just Do It!

Kaizen means continuous improvement

Moreover, Kaizen means continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life, and working life. When applied to the workplace Kaizen means continuing improvement involving everyone – managers and workers alike. Japanese word meaning -Kai - gradual and orderly change, Zen  - for the better. Involves everyone in the organization in small improvements using conventional knowledge and tools
Without large capital investments.
A culture  - way of life
Focusing on eliminating waste
Begins and ends with people
Total system focus – not just one department
Kaizen Extends to Individual Life
Everybody deserves to and should be willing to improve himself/herself for the better continually.
“If a man has not been seen for three days, his friends should take a good look at him to see what changes have befallen him”  - an old Japanese saying that 
describes how natural Kaizen is

Kaizen Key Concepts
SDCA to PDCA – standardized work
Quality first
If something can be improved, a measure must exist by which improvement can be quantified – quality characteristics
Upstream management
Speak with data
Variability control and recurrence prevention

Seven Deadly Wastes
Over-production
Waiting
Transportation
Over-processing
Inventory
Motion
Defects

THE Kaizen WET BLANKET LIST

I am too busy to study it.
It's a good idea, but the timing is premature
It is not in the budget
Theory is different from practice
Isn't there something else for you to do ?
I think it doesn't match corporate policy
It isn't our business; let someone else think about it
Are you dissatisfied with your work ?
It's not improvement, it's common sense
I know the result, even if we don't do it
I will not be held accountable for it
Can't you think of a better idea ?

BASIC TIPS FOR KAIZEN ACTIVITIES
Discard conventional fixed ideas.
Think of how to do it, not why it cannot be done.
Do not make excuses. Start by questioning current practices.
Do not seek perfection. Do it right away even if for only 50% of target.
Correct it right away, if you make mistake.
Do not spend money for KAIZEN, use your wisdom.
Wisdom is brought out when faced with hardship.
Ask 'WHY?" five times and seek root causes.
Seek the wisdom of ten people rather than the knowledge of one.

KAIZEN ideas are infinite.
Maintenance
Innovation
Major improvements in technology/equipment
Requires substantial investment
Best suited to a good economy
nKaizen 

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