Definition: Japanese term for gradual to ever higher standards in Quality enhancement and waste reduction through small but continual improvements involving everyone from the chief executive to the lowest level workers. Popularized by Masaaki Imai in his book ’KAIZEN: The key to Japanese ˇs competitive success.
Kaizen Japanese for improvement or change for the better, refers to philosophy that focus upon continuous improvements őf processes in manufacturing, engineering, supporting business process and management. Kaizen refers to activities that continually improve all functions and involves employees from CEO to the Assembly line workers. It also apply to processes such as purchasing and logistics that cut across organizational boundaries across supply chain by improving standardized activities and processes,
Kaizen aims to eliminate waste (see lean manufacturing). kaizen was just implemented in the several Japanese businesses after the 2nd War world,influenced in part by American business and Quality mamangement teachers who visited the country. It has since spread through the world and it has now been implemented in many other venues besides just business and productivity.
