Kaizen: A Window to Consulting Opportunities

Kaizen is a Japanese term that roughly translates as ''gradual continuous improvement in people's daily lives.'' It is a synthesis of kai, which means ''school,'' and zen, which means ''wisdom.'' In Japan, Kaizen is a system that governs everyday life. People who follow the principles of Kaizen set standards for themselves and then continually strive to achieve those standards.

. The Key Elements of Kaizen

In the corporate world, Kaizen gained prominence after World War II. It is often associated with management philosophies like Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, and the Toyota Production System. Kaizen strategies involve everyone in the organization, calling for never-ending efforts toward continual improvement. The foundation of Kaizen is built upon five elements:

teamwork
personal discipline
improved morale
quality circles
suggestions for improvement

Every worker in an organization following the principles of Kaizen is encouraged to come up with a variety of improvement suggestions on a regular basis. Even very small ideas are welcome. It is not necessary that employees suggest huge changes, and it is not necessary that their suggestions be limited to the production or manufacturing processes; they can address any organizational area. Therefore, every individual within the organization, whether he or she is an employee or a manager, gradually changes the organization, which eventually leads to improvement.

Kaizen's Emphasis on Eliminating Waste

Kaizen strongly emphasizes reducing waste or muda. Anything that increases costs is categorized as waste. The customer pays only for what is valuable. Kaizen defines seven kinds of waste:

mistakes that require rectification
production of unwanted items
inventories of unfinished goods
utilization of unnecessary steps in production
designing goods and services that do not meet customer needs
unnecessary movement and transportation of goods
an idle labor force

Opportunities in Kaizen Consulting

Kaizen is regaining its reputation in manufacturing in the United States with the emergence of lean manufacturing techniques. Due to the prevailing manufacturing situation in the United States, a significant number of organizations will be looking to implement Kaizen as part of their management cultures. Kaizen consultants with the right experience are in a good position to offer their services to major players in the manufacturing industry. A typical workflow analysis conducted by a Kaizen consultant consists of the following key elements:

reviewing factors such as quality, costs, logistics, and staff motivation
reviewing the process chain from the supplier to the final customer
understanding the "as is" situation
creating the basis of a culture of improvement in the company
creating awareness of how to cut waste by reviewing the company's workflow
presenting a set of recommendations and holding workshops to inform the company's staff and management about the importance of change
implementing recommendations
creating a Kaizen culture across the organization

Kaizen manufacturing consulting offers opportunities for mature and experienced consultants. With the right skills, knowledge, and qualifications, Kaizen consultants can go far in the U.S. manufacturing industry.

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Kaizen: A Window to Consulting Opportunities