2.7 Kaizen and successful applications
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Realizing that the Kaizen methodology originated in Japan in response to the oil crisis in the
early ‘70’s, it is easy to understand why it developed so much. Also the kaizen attitude helps
us to explain why Japanese firms are so exploiting new technology, even when they are not its
originator. Kaizen-driven firms do not suffer from “not invented here” syndrome. Ideas are not
the exclusive outcomes of R&D department, corporate planning, or market research; every
new idea is welcomed and new ‘channels’ are forsaken. An example of Kaizen’s effectiveness
is Nissan’s experience with welding robots. First introduced in 1973 and within a decade cut
work time per unit by 60 percent and increased overall production efficiency by 20 percent.
(50).These gains were achieved through a series of Kaizen programs that searched out
improvements that cut time by as little as half a second. The programs, initiated within three to
six months of one another, formed a staircase that each step was secured before the next to
rise
Kaizen practices can deliver breakthrough improvements in the range of 40-60% (51).But what
about Kaizen application elsewhere than in Japan ? In U.S.A. some managers even now do
not recognize the tremendous value that Kaizen can bring. Kaizen became a buzzword in U.S.
industry in the 1980s when American companies tried to copy the quality assurance programs
used by Toyota Motor Corp. and other Japanese manufacturing companies. However, to adapt
its dramatic potential to the more creative and self-directed American and also European
culture, it was developed a participative approach, customized for the circumstances , allows
the team itself, and not the "Sensai" (Kaizen expert/facilitator) to problem-solve and decide on
the solutions that are appropriate for the process. This puts more pressure on the facilitator to
teach, coach and guide, rather than direct the team. The results of the participative Kaizen
American Style (52) approach are that the results are better sustained because the people
themselves make the key decisions, and the learning process is thus better reinforced,
because it is active rather than passive . Some leading manufacturers in USA are now utilizing
the process known as "Kaizen American Style" which results that companies are expanding its
use to transform their businesses from end to end, becoming lean manufacturers. Kaizen
American Style is the umbrella methodology that successfully embraces JIT, TQM, selfdirected
work teams, and modern industrial engineering approaches into a working system
that achieves dramatic and sustainable breakthrough process improvements. Kaizen American
Style’s major tools are: Concepts of ‘Takt’, One-Piece-Flow, Standard Work, 5 S, Visual
Systems, Kanban, 8 Wastes and Set-Up Reduction. Masaaki Imai, chairman of Japan’s
Kaizen Institute in Tokyo and author of the 1986 book Kaizen: The Key to Japan’s Competitive
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Success, said in an interview that kaizen applied in American companies today in isolated
instances, such as within one plant, instead of company-wide. Also continues that kaizen
appears in only one form, such as total quality management or just-in-time production. “The
problem in most American companies is that the impetus for change is taken by middle
management and often top management is not involved,” he said. “But middle management
does not have enough resources.” Imai says top executives are to blame. He also warns that
intensifying global competition will only make kaizen even more important. “In today’s world,
competition is so tough that if you don’t have this kaizen spirit, you won’t survive,” Imai said.
“This is a tough world. The customers are more and more demanding.”
In western style Kaizen a lot of researchers argue that the following elements must be
included:
• Highly committed top management, to both rapid improvement and new ideas.
• Highly trained and experienced facilitators for the assessment phase, the event, and the
follow-up.
• Specific goals and objectives with a well-developed and clear mandate.
• A balanced, multi-disciplinary team for the event and to sustain the momentum.
• Professional team education and preparation.
• Clearly defined roles of the participants; process owner, team leader and co-leader and
Kaizen consultant.
• Commitment to follow-up and sustain the improvements made.