Is Kaizen an Inefficient Process???

Kaizen is an inefficient process.

Let’s face it, taking a team of 6-10 people away from their job for 3-5 days every time you solve a problem is just not cost effective.  On the other hand, if you are working to build a Continuous Improvement (CI) culture, Kaizen can be a useful tool.

A Continuous Improvement culture is when our front line team OWNS the operational improvement process.  The front line team collects data on the processes they work with.  The front line team uses that data to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement.  And the front line team works on developing, implementing, and sustaining the solutions for improving the operations.

For a Continuous Improvement culture to work, the front line needs to be engaged.  They also need to learn a standardized methodology for problem solving.  This is where Kaizen is a useful tool.

The Kaizen process can be used to teach a standardized problem solving methodology to the front line personnel.  The Kaizen process can also be used to initiate the effort to increase employee engagement, so as to get the front line to own the Continuous Improvement process.  And the Kaizen process can be used to change the leadership team’s behavior to one that is supportive of building a Continuous Improvement culture.

Thus, it is smart to use Kaizen to kick-start the Continuous Improvement process.  But continuing to use Kaizen for every problem is not efficient and is unwise.