Frequent problems in your workflows, extended delivery times, and rising costs can reduce business performance and operational efficiency. The Kaizen philosophy offers a systematic approach to identify problems and pursue continuous improvement. Through small and regular steps, tasks become more efficient, deliveries speed up, and operations are better managed.What is Kaizen?Kaizen, meaning “continuous improvement” in Japanese, focuses on gradual process improvement rather than sudden changes. When combined with Lean Methodology, it optimizes production processes and reduces waste of materials, energy, and time. Businesses can enhance operational performance and manage their processes more efficiently through Kaizen.What is a Kaizen Event and How is it Applied in Business Processes?A Kaizen event is a planned activity in which teams analyze business processes over a specific period, identify problems, and implement small but effective improvements.-Duration and ParticipantsTypically lasting 3–5 days, these events bring together teams from different departments. Cross-functional teams of 6–8 members are formed, and a facilitator is appointed to guide the process.-Methods UsedValue stream mapping, 5S applications, and the PDCA cycle are employed to implement clear process improvements.Why are Kaizen Events Important?Kaizen events enable businesses to develop solutions in rapidly changing working conditions.-Employee Engagement and CollaborationKnowledge and experience sharing are encouraged, and involving employees strengthens collaboration.-Management SupportManagement support ensures that the culture of continuous improvement is integrated into processes and operational progress is maintained.What Benefits Do Kaizen Events Provide to Businesses?Kaizen practices increase efficiency in production and processes, reduce error rates, and shorten delivery times.-Productivity Increase and Error ReductionKaizen can lead to 15–30% productivity gains in production, 20–40% process improvements, and 30–50% reductions in error rates.-Process Improvements and Faster DeliveriesImprovements shorten delivery times and enable more effective operation management.Planning and Implementation Steps for Kaizen EventsSuccessful Kaizen events require clear planning of steps.-Identifying Priority Improvement AreasBefore starting the improvement process, priority areas are selected.-Team Structure and Task AssignmentCross-functional teams and a facilitator are assigned, and tasks are clearly distributed.-Implementation with the PDCA CycleThe current state is analyzed, root causes are identified, solutions are developed, piloted, and results measured. New standards are then established.How Are Results Measured in Kaizen Events?Success is evaluated with measurable performance indicators.-Performance IndicatorsCriteria such as productivity, quality, delivery time, and cost are used.-Before-and-After ComparisonsCollected data are analyzed to clearly observe the impact of process improvements.-Monitoring with Visual ManagementVisual management boards and regular tracking support continuous improvement.The Impact of Kaizen on BusinessesKaizen delivers tangible and measurable improvements across all sectors. Small, continuous changes lead to long-term gains in efficiency, cost reduction, and quality enhancement.Contributions of the Oneri.io Kaizen Module to BusinessesEnables end-to-end management of Kaizen activities on a single platform.Allows creation of Kaizen initiatives directly from suggestions.All stakeholders can track the progress of Kaizen activities.Provides reporting and statistics on all ongoing Kaizen efforts.This allows businesses to fully leverage the potential of the Kaizen philosophy.For more information, visit the Oneri.io Kaizen Software page.
