Kaizen
Definition
Bericht zur erfolgreichen Implementierung von Kaizen
Dieses japanische Symbol
bedeutet
"es besser zu machen"
oder auch
"Verbesserung in kleinen Schritten"
Auf deutsch auch KVP Kontinuierlicher Verbesserungsprozess genant.
Kaizen ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil vom TPS
Some times the Kaizen activities
are also called:
“Blitz”, “5 Days and1 Night”, “Kaizen Blitz”, “Blitz Kaizen”, “(Value)
Stream Kaizen”,
“System Kaizen”, or “Breakthrough Kaizen”.
In different literature about Toyota the term “Quality Circle” is also used.
Typical improvements achieved by a single Kaizen are: (Wiley, 1999, p.3,7)
Typical improvements achieved by a single Kaizen are: | |
Setup time reduction | 70-90% |
Productivity improvement | 20-60% |
Process time reduction | 40-80% |
Inventory reduction | 30-70% |
Walking distance reduction | 40-90% |
The typical budgets for these projects are 300-400$ plus labor. | |
(Wiley, 1999, p.3,7) |
Kaizen |
|
Purpose | - continues improvement of quality,
service and process |
Occurs because | - it is systemic within the organization |
Operates by | - incremental steps |
Addresses | - existing products - existing systems and work processes |
Achieves | - consolidation in existing markets - competitive advantage by product/service improvement or by cost reduction |
Requires | - attention to detail - problem solving - cross-functionality - gaining consensus |
Source: Kaizen strategies for successful organizational change |
History of Kaizen
Since the definition of Kaizen is quite broad, there are several different
thoughts about the history of Kaizen. The most common version is that
it resulted from the competition between Nissan and Toyota.
The fact that Nissan won the Deming Price for quality in 1961 drove
Toyota even more aggressive in its approach to lean manufacturing.
Toyota therefore vowed that it, too, would win the Deming price. In
order to overcome certain quality issues Shigeo Shingo elaborated a
poke-yoke system. Based on the experience gathered during the
elaboration Tetsuichi Asaka and Kaomi Ishakawa developed the Toyota
Quality Circles in 1962. These Quality Circles were later called the first
real Kaizen event. In the same year Masaaki Imai founded the Kaizen
Institute, which promoted the Kaizen approach through the world.
Other theories about the origin of Kaizen are described in the paragraph
“Impact of cultural differences Japan, US, Europe” (Mika, 2000, p.5 )