Kaizen
What is Kaizen?
Kaizen Literally Translated means: Kai=Change and Zen=Good
One of the most powerful tools in the Lean Toolbox is the Lean Kaizen. Kaizen events target major problem areas based on value to the customer and to the business. The Kaizen Event is a well-defined improvement effort that occurs over 4.5 days of intensive teamwork. A tightly focused Charter is written with clear and challenging goals that will stretch your team to achieve amazing results. An SBTI expert facilitator or a trained Lean Leader® guides the team through the Kaizen event from the selection of the tools, process mapping, through the stages of process improvement to final control plans and key deliverables. When the event is completed your company will have a better process with improved quality, higher speed, and no waste. SBTI's successful history of Kaizen deployments guarantee dramatic bottom line results.
Kaizen Target Examples:
| Sales & Marketing |
Procurement / material management |
| Order taking and scheduling |
Logistics |
| Product or service development |
Administrative systems |
| Manufacturing |
Human Resources |
| Engineering |
Maintenance |
| "In my 25 years with the company, this was the best 'applied' training opportunity I've experienced". |
-Jeff Sheetz, Six Sigma Black Belt & Lean Leader
Tyco Electronics |
Empowered Work Teams
Business process improvements via Kaizen is a fast, exciting, breakthrough way of attacking sub-optimal processes. Kaizen is a conduit for both Lean and Six Sigma improvement as seen in SBTI K-Sigma™. Nothing speaks more clearly about the direction of your business, or motivates people better, than clear results. As your staff plays a hands-on role in the intensive 4.5 day Kaizen event, they will understand that they are integral to improving business processes, directly impacting the bottom line and imparting value added services to customers. Kaizen events generate excitement among your staff and stimulate ideas for future improvement possibilities. Get the best from your people, enhance your bottom line, answer the voice of the customer!
SBTI Kaizen Will:
Find the solution that best suits your business
Empower your staff to see the possibilities
Deliver clear results in just 4.5 days
Accelerate the integration of continuous improvement in your business
Lean Kaizen Event
Duration:
Baselining - 1 day
Opportunity Mapping - .5 days
Implementation - 1.5 day
Stabilizing - 1 day
Control Plan & Repair - .5 days
Kaizen Team Members:
Typical Kaizen Teams
Consist of:
1/3 - Key Process Content Experts
1/3 - Process Suppliers/Customers
1/3 - Fresh Eyes from Outside the Process
| "It was not until my participation in a Kaizen event at the OSI St. Mary's facility before I truly 'got it' ....The Kaizen methodology to continuous improvement is a truly remarkable method for visible change at high velocity". |
-Andrew Edwards, Cost Reductions Project Manager
OSRAM Sylvania, Inc., Automotive Lighting Division |
Kaizen Tools
Lean Kaizen Event (1.08MB  )
Kaizen Links
K-Sigma™
Lean
Lean Offerings
Lean Leader™
White Papers
Wikipedia - Kaizen
Relevant Organizations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) |
