A Guide to Successful Kaizen Practices

A GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL KAIZEN PRACTICES
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Contents
 TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727624"
1.0 Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc381727624 \h
3
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727625"
2.0 Consistency principles of kaizen  PAGEREF _Toc381727625 \h
4
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727626"
3.0 Implementation of 5S  PAGEREF _Toc381727626 \h
5
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727627"
4.0 Managerial commitment and workers motivation  PAGEREF _Toc381727627 \h
7
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727628"
5.0 Focus on clients  PAGEREF _Toc381727628 \h
7
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727629"
6.0 Long-term goal establishment  PAGEREF _Toc381727629 \h
8
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727630"
7.0 Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc381727630 \h
8
 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc381727631"
8.0 References:  PAGEREF _Toc381727631 \h
9

1.0 Introduction
Kaizen is a term used in Japan to refer to the practices or philosophy in which the focal point was continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, and those of business management and engineering. Kaizen was initially introduced in a number of businesses in Japan after World War II. The Kaizen practices were conducted in various industries including in the department of banking, government, psychotherapy and life-coaching among others. Kaizen practices were further applied in the workplaces where the term implied to the activities that recurrently improved all the functions (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt, 2008). It also covers all the employees, beginning with the Chief Executive Officer, heading down to assembly line staff, applying to processes like logistics and purchasing which cross the boundaries of organizations into supply chain. Kaizen practices were critically important in boosting the success of Japanese firms in various ways.
The interpretation of Kaizen can as a continuous, ongoing improvement can be said to have been significant for the growth of Japanese firms in particular. Some scholars keep on explaining the competitive success of Japan within the world market place, giving credit to the performance of the Kaizen conception in the Japanese corporations. Kaizen is believed to emerge in contrast with the normal emphasis that exists such as revolutionary, inventive change on an irregular basis. Kaizen focuses on an ongoing and uninterrupted incremental alteration. In Kaizen application the Japanese businesses had a great room for improvement, continuously trying to get better. The Kaizen approach was implemented in the corporations through implementation of improvement in all aspects of the business processes (Ibata-Arens, 2005). The application required one step at a time in order to master all the stages and to ensure that there is no mistake at any stage. The systematic approach also helped in ensuring gradual development of the employees’ skills via increased involvement as well as training education.
2.0 Consistency principles of...