Definition: The principle of incremental improvement.
Insight: Japan recovered from their war torn economy in the 1950s and 1960s using the principle of Kaizen: "continuous betterment."
Insight: Kaizen is based on the idea that there are always little ways to improve performance.
Insight: In Japanese organisations that used Kaizen, every employee is encouraged to seek out and implement improvements every single day.
Insight: The cumulative impact of small changes over time is huge.
Insight: The Kaizen principle is based on step by step improvements over quantum leaps.
Insight: Mastery is the product of small improvements over a long time scale.
Insight: Everyone has the ability to be excellent at something - through the long process of small improvements over time.
Definition: Continuous betterment.
Insight: The Kaizen approach to business is based on the belief that it is possible to get better at anything you do, continuously.
Insight: When introducing Kaizen into business everyone, at all levels, is encouraged to look for ways to improve.
Insight:Common processes for kaizen include suggestion boxes, brainstorming, bonus systems.
Insight:Kaizen does not require huge breakthroughs or ideas.
Insight:Kaizen begins from the top management, encouraging everyone to improve each day, and experiment.
Principle:Always look to better your performance each day, continuously raise the bar.
Reference: W. Edwards Deming introduced the Kaizen method into Japanese manufacturing.
Definition: Continuous betterment or improvement.
Insight: In Kaizen systems, each employee is encouraged to look for improvements within their "line of sight".
Insight: There are always small ways in which to improve.
Insight: In business, Kaizen keeps staff alert to changing circumstances.
Insight: The cumulative effect of small improvements over time leads to huge improvements.
Insight: We can always try improvements and ideas at a small scale.
Insight: Successful ideas in business should be shared so that small improvements can scale across an organisation.
Principle: Continuously look for small ways to improve.
Reference: W. Edwards Deming - introduced Kaizen into Japanese manufacturing.
Example: Toyota uses the concept of kaizen to continuously improve systems by eliminating waste via lots of small changes.
Insight: Small behaviours and inputs accumulate over time.
Insight: Consistent implementation of small improvements will inevitably produce huge results.
Insight: The more small improvements you can make over time, the better the results.
Example: "The Ladder Approach" - based on the idea that we can reach a great height by making one small step at a time.
Insight: The Kaizen approach of gradual and continuous improvement is the opposite to an grand restructuring.
Insight: The process of simplifying can be done gradually with small simplifications over time.
Definition: Continuous improvement.
Insight: Kaizen can be encouraged in group meetings that are safe, flat, and high-candour to bring out ideas and the combined brainpower of the group.
Insight: Companies should never stop learning, growing, innovating, and improving.
Reference: W. Edwards Deming - introduced Kaizen to Japanese and American manufacturing.
Example: Toyota used the kaizen method to upskill all their workers to improve productivity. Many workers were able to keep their jobs rather than being laid off.
Insight: Continuous improvement is important to teach children.
Key Insights & Principles
Business
Continuous small improvements lead to large improvements in quality, productivity, and efficiency over time.
Kaizen begins from top management and the culture of trying new ideas and small changes to improve each day.
Kaizen is the opposite of grand restructuring and changes.
Encourage everyone to seek out and implement small improvements each day.
Successful improvements should be shared so that improvements can scale.
Reward successful innovation.
Personal Growth
There are always small ways we can improve.
Mastery is the product of small improvements over a long time scale.
Everyone has the ability to be excellent at something through the long process of small improvements over time.
Continuously look for ways to improve and raise the bar.
