A shorten definition for Kaizen is continuous improvement and the Kaizen Event is a team based activity that focuses on a continuous improvement. The team is very often a cross-functional team that will be brought together for a short period of time. I think a great way to use Kaizen is for nibbling on the sides and taking off a little at a time. A Kaizen event will allow you to dig deeper.
I use an analogy very often in marketing: It may be easier to dig sideways but you seldom find water that direction or it takes a long time. Digging deeper brings better results. I try to get a customer to focus on their target market. So many times, we believe that trying other markets is the best way to increase sales. However, the most effective way is to search our current customer’s need and focus there. A little trick that may be useful is the 5 principles of Lean Thinking:
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Specify the value of the process.
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Identify the value stream
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Allow value to flow without interruptions.
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Let the client pull value from the process
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Continuously pursue perfection.
When you review these principles, they can provide a great way to start brainstorming and a great start to your Kaizen Event. They can also serve as a way to determine the team that you may need for the event. Make sure that your team has the expertise and authority to address these five principles. The purpose of a Kaizen is to dig deep, find water. Don’t settle for routine improvements. If you want your creative juices to flow, push yourself to eliminate and make radical improvement of 200% or more. Seek cost reductions of half or more. Go for it!
P.S. Mark Graban at the Lean Blog made this statement yesterday: “David Meier explains he was only in 3 Kaizen events in 10 yrs at Toyota. – We did kaizen every day.”
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