KAIZEN

Kaizen

 (Continuous improvement)

Kaizen is an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap major improvements. Typically, it is based on cooperation and commitment and stands in contrast to approaches that use radical changes or top-down edicts to achieve transformation. Kaizen is core to lean manufacturing, or The Toyota Way. It was developed in the manufacturing sector to lower defects, eliminate waste, boost productivity, encourage worker purpose and accountability, and promote innovation.                                                                                                                                   As a broad concept that carries myriad interpretations, it has been adopted in many other industries, including healthcare.                                                                                                                                  Kaizen is a compound of two Japanese words that together translate as "good change" or "improvement," but Kaizen has come to mean "continuous improvement" through its association with lean methodology.

Kaizen has its origins in post-World War II Japanese quality circles. These circles or groups of workers focused on preventing defects.

Ten principles of Kaizen

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

1.    Let go of assumptions.

2.    Be proactive about solving problems.

3.    Don't accept the status quo.

4.    Let go of perfectionism and take an attitude of iterative, adaptive change.

5.    Look for solutions as you find mistakes.

6.    Create an environment in which everyone feels empowered to contribute.

7.    Don't accept the obvious issue; instead, ask "why" five times to get to the root cause.

8.    Cull information and opinions from multiple people.

9.    Use creativity to find low-cost, small improvements.

10.         Never stop improving.

How Kaizen works

Kaizen is based on the belief that everything can be improved and nothing is status quo. It also rests on a Respect for People principle. Kaizen involves identifying issues and opportunities, creating solutions and rolling them out -- and then cycling through the process again for other issues or problems that were inadequately addressed. These following seven steps create a cycle for continuous improvement and give a systematic method for executing this process

Other approaches:

A similar cycle of Kaizen is distilled into four steps -- plan, do, check, act, or PDCA. It is also known as the Shewhart cycle or Deming cycle.

Kaizen 5S framework

A 5S framework is a critical part of the Kaizen system and establishes an ideal physical workplace. The 5Ses focus on creating visual order, organization, cleanliness and standardization to improve profitability, efficiency, service and safety. Below are the original Japanese 5Ses and their common English translations.

·        Seiri/Sort (organize) -- Separate necessary workplace items from unnecessary ones and remove unnecessary items.

·        Seiton/Set in order (create orderliness) -- Arrange items to allow for easy access in the way that makes the most sense for work.

·        Seiso/Shine (cleanliness) -- Keep the workspace clean and tidy.

·        Seiketsu/Standardize (standardized cleaning) -- Systematize workplace cleanup best practices.

·        Shitsuke/Sustain (discipline) -- Keep the effort going.