The Idea Generator Quick and Easy Kaizen AUTHOR: Bunji Tozawa and Norman Bodek PUBLISHER: PCS Press DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2004 NUMBER OF PAGES: 407 pages Book pic

Kaizen – Definitions, Structure, and Systems Kaizen is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement. For the purpose of this book’s discussion, however, Kaizen shall be functionally defined as: Improvement through changes in the method Small changes, not big changes Changes within realistic constraints THE BIG IDEA

Kaizen – Definitions, Structure, and Systems

Kaizen is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement. For the purpose of this book’s discussion, however, Kaizen shall be functionally defined as:

Improvement through changes in the method

Small changes, not big changes

Changes within realistic constraints

Quick and Easy Kaizen a system of encouraging employees to come up with small ideas and to implement these ideas. For each new idea, an employee is expected to : Present the idea to his supervisor Keep the supervisor informed of his daily progress with respect to the idea Produce a write-up of the idea to share with his co-employees Report on his successes or needs for assistance Turning Ideas into Success

Quick and Easy Kaizen

a system of encouraging employees to come up with small ideas and to implement these ideas.

For each new idea, an employee is expected to :

Present the idea to his supervisor

Keep the supervisor informed of his daily progress with respect to the idea

Produce a write-up of the idea to share with his co-employees

Report on his successes or needs for assistance

To make a Quick and Easy Kaizen system work well, focus only on small changes, not big ones. Kaizen means continuous change. Lasting change is only possible with a change in method. Kaizen allows for successive trial-and-error within the scope of each job. Improving by Changing Methods

To make a Quick and Easy Kaizen system work well, focus only on small changes, not big ones.

Kaizen means continuous change. Lasting change is only possible with a change in method.

Kaizen allows for successive trial-and-error within the scope of each job.

Three Kaizen implementation rules: Stop. Stop doing things that you have done in the past but do not seem to have any reason to continue doing today. Reduce. Eliminate unnecessary things that may be cluttering the workplace and cut back on activities that are no longer required today. Change. Just do something different. Make one slight improvement to make something better. Kaizen Steps and Principles

Three Kaizen implementation rules:

Stop. Stop doing things that you have done in the past but do not seem to have any reason to continue doing today.

Reduce. Eliminate unnecessary things that may be cluttering the workplace and cut back on activities that are no longer required today.

Change. Just do something different. Make one slight improvement to make something better.

Writing Down a Kaizen is Easy: Before: What was the problem? – What was the specific problem that required a solution? After: How was it improved? – What was the specific solution that was implemented to solve the problem? Effect: What were the results? – What is the impact/effect of having implemented the solution? Surfacing Ideas

Writing Down a Kaizen is Easy:

Before: What was the problem? – What was the specific problem that required a solution?

After: How was it improved? – What was the specific solution that was implemented to solve the problem?

Effect: What were the results? – What is the impact/effect of having implemented the solution?

Writing Down Kaizen Ideas Write down ideas you had in the past and solved. Write down a change that you would like to make – a small change. Write down the problem, the solution, the effect. Write down problems you have now that need solutions. Constantly be on the lookout for possible small changes. Focus on what you can do. Surfacing Ideas

Writing Down Kaizen Ideas

Write down ideas you had in the past and solved.

Write down a change that you would like to make – a small change. Write down the problem, the solution, the effect.

Write down problems you have now that need solutions.

Constantly be on the lookout for possible small changes.

Focus on what you can do.

3 Principles of Kaizen Implementation: Attack by changing a part, not the whole. – Divide a problem into smaller parts. Attack little by little. Change little by little. Attack by changing the angle. – Don’t stick to only one way of doing things. Change the factors involved. Change the conditions. View the problem from a variety of perspectives. Attack by changing the level. – It is not necessary to be perfect in Kaizen. Start at the level at which something can be done immediately and easily to improve the situation. Principles of Kaizen Implementation

3 Principles of Kaizen Implementation:

Attack by changing a part, not the whole. – Divide a problem into smaller parts. Attack little by little. Change little by little.

Attack by changing the angle. – Don’t stick to only one way of doing things. Change the factors involved. Change the conditions. View the problem from a variety of perspectives.

Attack by changing the level. – It is not necessary to be perfect in Kaizen. Start at the level at which something can be done immediately and easily to improve the situation.

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