Kaizen & Continuous Improvement
Kaizen is a system of continuous improvement in quality, technology, processes, productivity, company culture, safety and leadership. The word Kaizen means "continuous improvement." It comes from the Japanese words "Kai" which means "change" or "to correct" and "Zen" which means "good." Kaizen is a system that involves every employee - including senior management. Everyone is encouraged to come up with small improvement suggestions on a regular basis. This is not a once a month or once a year activity, it is continuous. Theory covered includes: • Kaizen definition and teamwork • The PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) Cycle • Check sheets and Pareto analysis • The Seven Wastes • Identifying waste in a process • Reducing waste in a process Who is it for? • Management involved in leading Kaizen implementation • Employees involved in everyday operations that could apply Kaizen Benefits: • Reduced waste • Improved staff skill levels • Potential Cost savings • Immediate results • Helps create a culture of continuous improvement