Kaizen Technique: The art of continuous improvement
How to use it for the betterment of your personal and professional lives.
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE KAIZEN TECHNIQUE
KEY PRINCIPLES FOR IMPLEMENTING KAIZEN
TECHNIQUES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF KAIZEN IN REAL-LIFE
BENEFITS OF APPLYING KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY
BOOKS TO READ IF YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY FOR THE BETTER LIFE
Kaizen Technique: The art of continuous improvement
How to use it for the betterment of your personal and professional lives.
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS KAIZEN TECHNIQUE
In the rapidly growing world where it is difficult to track in which direction we are heading or what exactly we are doing with our lives, it becomes crucial for us to know how can we make our lives better while having a woke personality.
Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that has emerged as a cornerstone of success for many people in the modern world. It means “Continuous improvement”, Kaizen emphasizes on the quality, efficiency and productivity of work in our personal and professional lives by ensuring not to let us be stagnant in the wide-changing world.
The history of kaizen traces backs to Japan in the WW II, where it emerged as the philosophy which transformed the industries and shaped organizational cultures worldwide. After WWII, Japan faced significant Challenges while rebuilding their economy from scratch. During that time various industrialists emerged to the rescue of such a situation and one of such industrialists was Fujio Cho, who became the President of Toyota in 1999. During the 1980’s management consultant, Masaaki Imai worked with Taiichi Ohno to spread the message of the Toyota Production System (TPS), a result of several years of continuous improvements. He implemented the Toyota Production System (TPS), which was based on the principles of Kaizen. TPS included the principles of reducing waste, timely manufacturing, empowering employees and improving efficiency. Although the roots of kaizen were rooted way back in the Japan, Toyota was one such company which implemented the plan to bring out significant changes in quality management and process improvement.
Kaizen is made from the word “Kai” which means change and “Zen” which means good or better. Today kaizen has became popular worldwide and is known for the art of continuous improvement and better performance.
KEY PRINCIPLES FOR IMPLEMENTING KAIZEN
Kaizen is a philosophy which is laid down on several key principles and some of the principles of kaizen are as follows:
· Continuous improvement: Kaizen emphasizes on the core idea of continuous improvement. No matter how perfect the technique or idea seems or appeals to you initially it can be refined for being better and the best. The continuous refinement of an idea or process despite the sight of perfection it may carry is the art of continuous improvement.
· Respect and consideration towards people: Kaizen has a belief system that believes that all the employees regardless of their role can contribute a great deal of value and improvement to any organization. Afterall the roots of any change can be traced to the very basic units.
· Waste elimination: By eliminating and removing the waste involved in the process, it can certainly enhance the performance only by keeping in mind the necessities of the hour.
· Implementation of standard processes: Kaizen talks about how we can keep going with the standard processes and use them in the best way possible to bring out the required changes by increasing consistency, efficiency at the same time laying the principle of continuous improvement.
TECHNIQUES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF KAIZEN IN REAL LIFE
Kaizen can be implemented in daily life for the betterment and quality of life. Some of the techniques of the implementation of the kaizen are as follows:
5S Framework: 5S framework aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness by eliminating waste from the required process.
It can also be understood as the fact that we should not reply on the method or processes same as earlier because they might not work again the same way expected. Hence the continuous development by eliminating waste is the crucial step. The 5S principles includes:
1. Sort (Seiri): Elimination of something which is not needed.
2. Straighten (Seiton): After sorting, organize whatever remains
3. Shine (Seisou): Clean and inspect the study area.
4. Standardize (Seiketsu): Write standards for 5S.
5. Sustain (Shitsuke): Consistently apply the 5S standards
Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) Cycle – This process includes four step management methodology for the effective planning of changes, implementing the changes planned, monitoring the changes already made and lastly making adjustments if necessary. It provides a structured approach towards the change and continuous improvement.
Continuous feedback – Regularly assessing the method, processes and their outcome provides a perspective towards the improvement that we are required to make in our methods. In the realm of virtual world where it is difficult to find out what we are doing wrong, it becomes crucial to get the feedback from your surroundings as it makes sure that we are on the right path.
Breaking the big tasks into small chunks: I think you can relate to me when I say this, whenever we look at the task we need to perform or it can be our goal, it seems like a big mountain to be moved initially. We can sort this problem out by breaking that task down in the smaller chunks, it gives us confidence to keep going further and the happiness that comes from completing every small chunk is also unbeatable.
Setting clear goals: The problem that our generation has is that we literally want to do everything or nothing. It is like giving mixed signals to our brain and making it difficult to focus on what you exactly want to do. Don’t be a monkey mind, just set your clear goals and give your mind the clear signal. Never fail to let your mind know what is your goal.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one." ~ Mark Twain
BENEFITS OF APPLYING KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY
Incorporating kaizen philosophy in your life and reap multiple benefits including the significant growth in your career as well. We cannot underestimate those who has lived before us and provided us with the lifelong assets of such valuable philosophy. Here are some key benefits of using kaizen philosophy:
1. Skill development: Learning something new won’t harm you in any way and specially if it is such a useful concept which can make your productivity increase twice the times it already it. Also, please remember that one can never be fully educated and one has to open to learning new concepts and putting efforts continuously for the improvement.
2. Increased motivation: Kaizen can quip us with the reason of doing things in our lives and setting goals which are missing from our lives. Finding the purpose in life is also a purpose we should accomplish before we vanish into the sand of the mother earth.
3. Improved learning process: The core principles of kaizen is continuous improvement and it involves continuously seeking the improvement opportunities and by its implementation one can identify the learning issues and focus on the corrective measures required to be adopted during the process.
4. Discipline and Routine: By following the particular disciple and routine, it can significant increase your mental and emotional well being as well by giving the satisfaction needed before hitting the bed at the night.
BOOKS TO READ IF YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY FOR THE BETTER LIFE
1. Kaizen: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success
by Masaaki Imai
2. The Spirit of Kaizen: Creating Lasting Excellence one small step at a time
by Bob Maurer
3. One small step can change your life: The kaizen way
by Bob Maurer
4. The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from The World’s Greatest Manufacturer
5. Choose Yourself
by James Altucher
6. The practice
By Seth Godin
7. Atomic Habits
By James Clear
8. The Power of Habit
by Charles Duhigg
9. The Tipping Point
by Malcom Gladwell
10. Outliers
by Malcom Gladwell
Remember, Life can be anything but not stagnant. It should be full of learning and continuous progress.
Swati Shikha Laxmi
