Continuous Improvement: KAIZEN

KAIZEN (改善) means ‘continuous improvement’.

This concept is not new and was pioneered by Japanese and American gurus notably Deming and Juran since the 1950s.

In Japanese:

KAI = ‘to take apart’

ZEN = ‘to make good’

This means to dismantle/take-apart something in order to make it better.

There are already many tools available today o do Kaizen. Everyone should practise it in work and in our daily lives.

But Kaizen requires thinking and analyses. Only through reflections and thinking can one improves on something. With so many distractions around us these days, how many could actually allocate time to think? I think not much as most of our remaining time are revolve around and consumed by our smart devices and gadgets. Even young children these days have little time to think.

Thinking about improvement is one challenge, while getting business owners and leaders to sponsor changes is another.  Unless ideas are about improving revenues or raising their already inflated egos and status, chances are Kaizen’s efforts would change nothing. Until business owners and leaders have open minds, big listening ears and believe in Kaizen that would improve their organizations and not for personal gains, this concept is just another fad.