No matter how well your business is doing, it always needs improvement. The best way to make your company more efficient and productive is to implement Kaizen, a process of continuous improvement. Kaizen is an essential component of Lean Manufacturing and involves the continuous removal of waste from your production line. If you’re not sure how to implement Kaizen, check out our Kaizen Implementation Guide to help your business grow. Kaizen Definition It is a Japanese word meaning continuous improvement and is a philosophy that seeks to make continuous improvement. The Kaizen philosophy is about focusing on frequent and minor changes in existing business processes in an organization and engaging employees at different levels. By applying a kaizen strategy, it is possible to make your company more efficient and profitable by constantly improving your business processes. How is Kaizen Applied? Kaizen methodology is an approach to making continuous improvements in an organization. It entails a process of change that allows people to tap into their own creativity as they look at how their business processes can be improved or whether any improvements can be made. Here are some steps you should take regarding the Kaizen methodology: Value Stream Mapping The value stream map allows for detailed visualization of every step of your business processes and shows all the steps that need to be taken to deliver value to the process. Identifying Waste in Business Processes Identifying waste in operational business processes becomes much easier after mapping out the value stream. In the production process, Muda has 7 types of waste: overproduction, waiting, inventory, movement, defects and overwork. Setting Kaizen Goals After identifying the current waste in your business processes, Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) targets should be determined. What needs to be considered here is that the goals are set in a specific, achievable, measurable, relevant and time-bound manner. Selecting the Process to Optimize After the objectives are set, you need to decide which processes need to be optimized and focus on those processes. Applying the 5S Method 5S is a technique aimed at improving business processes. It has 5 basic elements: sequencing, sequential adjustment, polishing, standardization and discipline (continuity). After selecting the processes to be optimized, the 5S method should be started to be implemented. Seeking Muda’s 7 Wastes in Business Processes Start looking for ways to eliminate the 7 basic wastes of Muda that arise in the business processes of companies. These wastes are overproduction, holding, shipping, inventory, movement, defects and overprocessing. Designing a Business Process Improvement Plan This plan that you will prepare should be a plan that includes your kaizen goals, your processes to be optimized and the 5S methodology. Then you should start your improvement processes over this plan. Result Evaluation Finally, it is necessary to evaluate the results of Kaizen applications. You can evaluate the financial impact of these practices by looking at their impact on quality and productivity. What is the Benefit of Kaizen Applications? The primary benefit of kaizen is to improve standard business processes. However, in addition to this, applying kaizen allows for problem-solving, collaboration, communication skills, and leadership qualities of employees. With the feedback from the employees, they feel a sense of ownership over their workspace. This motivates them to identify problems in existing processes and suggest improvements, increasing their efficiency. In addition, kaizen practices strengthen the culture of continuous improvement, enabling the company to maintain its existence and success. Related Content: How Can You Apply the Kaizen Philosophy in Workplace?
