Module 08
KAIZEN / The Continuous Improvement Way / Philosophy & Management System
Description
Kaizen is commonly known as a philosophy of continuous improvement. However, it is not so commonly known that a philosophy may be effective only within a formal and well-organized system. Kaizen approach refers to many LEAN concepts and techniques. All of them, when working together within the frames of a formal system, will bring the desired results of waste reduction and effective problem solving.
Kaizen involves everybody in the Company. Its philosophy is like a friendly spirit enveloping the entire organization. Kaizen assumes that the final result of all improvement is a sum of numerous, small steps resulting from strong involvement of the entire staff, especially of the operators and their leaders. Mature Kaizen attitude means to react when seeing waste, to open the mind and bring ideas of how to proceed rather than explaining why things cannot be done. If we continue to follow that philosophy, Kaizen will root well in the way we think, work and behave. It will become our second nature, which will lead to unconscious competence in driving improvements.
In this module of LEAN Academy we will learn on how to master this uneasy skill and have our organization develop efficiently the idea of Continuous Improvement!
Recommended Audience
Leaders, managers and LEAN specialists and wider admin staff within the organization.
Methodology
Multimedia presentation, short lectures, individual exercises, group activities and discussions and Q&A
Learning Objectives
Kaizen: The Continuous Improvement Way (1 day
- Understanding the most important concepts in the Kaizen philosophy.
- How to make Kaizen become an effective way to eliminate waste and to solve the problems
- Kaizen as a system and standards of continuous improvement.
- Definition of the Kaizen teams and methodology of their actions
- What is the Kaizen Event (Blitz) workshop? Methodology of planning and conducting effectively organized workshops to improve or solve complex problems.
Tools / Templates / Methods
- PSD 8D Complete Tool-Set. A complex problem solving tool including A3 Storyboard, Ishikawa Diagram, 5 Why’s and 8 Disciplines . In a very visual way the PSD tool helps manage solving any problem, especially those related to quality management.
- 5 Why’s Template. A simple but effective tool to run the exercise of 5 Whys that is essential to identify root causes of any problem that has been previously depicted. It works well with Problem Solving, PDCA, and while creating FMEA.