The document discusses the Toyota Kata method of continuous improvement. It proposes using routines like grasping the current condition, setting a target condition, using PDCA cycles, and coaching katas. These routines are meant to be practiced frequently to develop the capability for continuous improvement. Frequent coaching cycles between a mentor and mentee are also recommended to establish rapport and keep practitioners learning.

1. Toyota Kata
Developing Improvement Kata
Thinking & Acting
May 2010
Bill Costantino
www.W3GroupLLC.com
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2. Suzaki’s Mini-Company
● Strive for full participation and
contribution from all employees,
to succeed in global marketplace
● Gemba (Reality) focus
● Mini-Company approach
● Ownership using Scoreboard –
aka “Glass wall”
● Competency – skill development
● Participation & Improvement
● Alignment – Policy Deployment
● Managers & Supervisors are key –
as mentors / coaches
W3 Group, LLC Bill Costantino 2 Lean Transformation l Consulting l Training l Support

3. Lessons from My Clients
● Key elements & structure for successful
Mini-Company development include:
♦ Clear metrics
♦ Visibility to everyone  Glasswall
♦ Designated Team Leader (T/L)
♦ Senior management visibly engaged
♦ Frequent touch: T/L with team,
management with T/L
♦ Accountability
♦ Basic set of key tools: 5S, Visual
Factory, SW, Job Instruction, Basic
Problem solving
♦ Use the tools to improve… with
guidance
♦ Focus on facts and data
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4. Stall Point…
● Common stall point:
♦ Continuous
Improvement model
(routine) is lacking
♦ Struggle with
coaching / mentoring
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5. Toyota Kata = Integration
● Logical next step
● Provides clear routines to
teach and learn
● Makes improvement part
of everyday work
● This is now an
experiment in progress!
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6. Kata Thinking
These routines are
Four key routines to
repeated in successive
practice at the start: training sessions for
Group Leaders
● Grasp Current Condition
That begins
● Set Target Condition
to develop
● PDCA toward Target capability!
Condition
● Coaching Kata
… Keeping it simple
at first
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7. Relevance of Frequent Practice
● “Understanding” is not capability
● Takes physical, bodily repetition to develop
familiarity & skills
● Gains from occasional “exercises” that are soon
lost creates frustration
● Rapport between mentor – mentee takes
frequent contact to establish
♦ difference between managing someone vs. coaching
● Infrequent practice =
♦ Forever low on the learning curve
♦ Management really committed??
♦ Can’t build momentum
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8. Frequent Coaching Cycles
Mentee
Mentor
Master
Coach
W3 Group, LLC Bill Costantino 8 Lean Transformation l Consulting l Training l Support

9. Re-Defining PDCA
● Common Mindset (eg. A3, Kaizen event, 6-Sigma project, etc.)
♦ Structured format and tools
♦ Long(er) lead time
♦ Event based
♦ Specialized, limited
resources, i.e., CI team
● New Mindset
♦ Short, frequent cycles – sometimes minutes!
♦ Biased for action
♦ NOT – “Let’s see if (s)he got it done,” but instead –
“What obstacles are now preventing progress to the TC?”
♦ Anyone can learn it
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10. Solutions versus Discovery
● People often invent full-blown solutions,
then try to impose on the process, versus…
● Small-step discovery as we go
♦ Closer connection to the reality of the process
♦ System is dynamic, ever-changing
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11. Problems, Problems…
● Our common reflex to solve the problem, versus…
● Developing
Problem Solvers
● HUGE
paradigm shift!
● We are trained to:
♦ Produce answers
♦ Direct others what to do
● But what is the better competitive
advantage in the long run?
W3 Group, LLC Bill Costantino 11 Lean Transformation l Consulting l Training l Support

12. Coaching Others
● Very difficult skill to develop
● Often non-existent in today’s
business culture
● We tend to be results focused
instead of means focused
● Coercing or managing
vs. truly coaching
● Lack of reliable / trainable methodology (kata)
● Must personally develop skill yourself before
able to coach others.
W3 Group, LLC Bill Costantino 12 Lean Transformation l Consulting l Training l Support

13. Discussion
Thank You!
W3 Group, LLC Bill Costantino 13 Lean Transformation l Consulting l Training l Support