1. Understanding Kaizen

 

 

Main Basic Concepts

 

A) Housekeeping

B) Muda (Waste) Elimination

C) Standardization

 

A) Housekeeping

 

It helps employees acquire and practice self-discipline. This is the first step to becoming Zero Waste. Without self-discipline, there can be no change and thus there can be no improvement.

 

B) Muda (Waste) Elimination

 

"Muda" in the Japanese word for "waste". Not waste as in garbage, but waste as in absolutely anything that does not add value. Muda elimination can be the most cost-effective way to imporve productivity and reduce operation cost. (Example > in the book: Case study - Densho Engineering)

 

C) Standardization

 

 

Standardization means "the best way to do a certain job". Anybody following this standard can do the best job in maintaining quality and performance of the product or process. This way we can prevent reacurrence of errors and thus prevent waste of faulty products.

 

The use of human-centered activities, such as learning together, teamwork, morale enhancement, self-discipline, quality circles and suggestions generate improvements in safety, quality control, cost and develops people.

 

Kaizen also implies small low-cost common sense improvements, which will have a beneficial long-term effect, as opposed to the Western mentality, in which innovation and new technology are the best problem-solvers.