What is Kaizen?

“KAIZENMEANS
IMPROVEMENT.
Moreover, it 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.”
-Masaaki Imai
 Dr. Masaaki Imai
didn't invent Kaizen
but he has
popularized it
Globally
Dr. Masaaki Imai didn't invent
Kaizen but he has popularized it
Globally

• The word kaizen is a Japanese term (Sino Japanese),

Japanese people use the term "Kaizen" to mean
"improvement".

• Masaaki Imai is one of the best regarded person

who popularized the term "Kaizen" outside Japan
through his book “Kaizen: Japanese spirit of
Improvement” in 1985 but it doesn’t mean he
invented the term.
Kaizen doesn't refer
only small
improvement
Kaizen doesn't refer only
small improvement

• “Kaizen means small improvement”, It’s one of

the biggest myth about Kaizen! Kaizen doesn't
mean only small improvement.

• Japanese people use the term "Kaizen" to mean

any kind of improvement, one-time or
continuous, large or small.
Kaizen is not a tool
Kaizen is not a tool

• Kaizen is not a tool that anyone can take it and

use. It is about a culture.

• Kaizen is a never end journey of continual

improvement and it comes from our mind which
reveals our innate potentiality.
Kaizen has wider
applications
including
manufacturing
processes
Kaizen has wider applications
including manufacturing processes

• Kaizen philosophy is applicable in both of

personal and professional life.
• Considering business world, Kaizen philosophy is
applicable in any kinds of businesses regardless
of sizes, types (manufacturing, services, etc),
and functions.
 Kaizen shouldn't be
compared with PDCA
and other
Approaches & Tools
Kaizen shouldn't be compared
with PDCA and other Approaches
and Tools

• PDCA is a management principle/ approach which is

used in policy management, problem solving, etc for
Total Quality Management (TQM), whereas Kaizen
means Improvement.
• Roughly we can refer Kaizen as an outcome of problem
solving or daily management or policy management.
• So, Kaizen and PDCA (and other approaches) shouldn't
be compared with each other as an alternative.
Kaizen can be gained
through many ways
including small
group initiatives
(i.e., QC Circle)
Kaizen can be gained through
many ways including small group
initiatives (i.e., QC Circle)

• Improvement (Kaizen) can be achieved in

personal or professional life by any individuals
and/or group of people.
• So why do you think that Small Group Initiatives
(Quality Control Circle, Cross Functional Team,
etc) are mandatorily required to carry out any
sort of kaizens!
 Standard works/
Standardization is an
important part of
Kaizen
Standard works/
Standardization is an
important part of Kaizen

• Taiichi Ohno, Father of TPS said, "Where there is no

standard, there can be no Kaizen."
• Standard Work is an integral part of Kaizen.
• "We can say strengthen you standing position first
(through SDCA), then jump for next destination (through
PDCA)."
• SDCA prevents the deterioration and therefore it is
extremely important that both the SDCA & PDCA cycles
are well established to ensure Kaizen!
You can't avoid both of ups and
down in a kaizen journey!
A straight line even in an E.C.G.
means the person is not alive.

TQM for better Future

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 “A New American TQM” –
Shoji Shiba

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