Kaizen

`Kaizen' all the way....

Back from a day off yesterday. Naturally coming with many years of experience from a Japanese based manufacturing company, I am very much imbiued and indoctrinated into `Kaizen' concepts and ideas. You may be wondering what is the hell `kaizen' is all about? Good, thats normal. I too, had similar thoughts, during my first introduction to this Japanese word some 10 years ago.

`Kaizen' simply means :

Kai - change (small improvements)
Zen - for better (continualy)

In practical sense, this is governed by the principle of that, we are not perfect, but incalculating the attitude of continual improvement in all our activities, does makes us gradually and incrementaly able to see the differences as well positve progress. Logicaly too, its easier to do small task and improve gradualy as we progress in our expertise rather than doing that which is difficult that tend to overwhelm and can lead us to disappoinment when met with failure.

Simple example could be, keep waking up late from bed every day. Kaizen resolution would be waking up at the specified time that you wanted to wake up by affirming to yourself that you will get up at that set time. In the coming days, you would have conquered your mental stand to follow your `inner command', thus coming to a small `victory' in achieving your goal. Small but it's gradual as well as achievable.

Next, we move on to other area of work. Improving process timing of certain manufacturing activity that could reduce the said cycle timing. Your may look with your team members on how to cut/reduce activity of the person who does the task assigned by performing `motion study' and asess overall action Vs time taken to complete the task. Brainstorming ideas for ways to improve or introduce new methodology or relayout work bench or place to get the best possible better results. Any result that gives some degree of small improvements will be considered `Kaizen' ..

What you are waiting for? Go for Kaizen...yo will be amzed to see yourself keep moving up in your self progress as well as the positve change happenigs while adopting this concept.


KAIZEN FOR LIFE