Improving Kaizen Events

What is a Kaizen Event?

A Kaizen Event is the application of kaizen techniques, during a short period of time, targeted to make improvements in a specific area or process. The objective is to quickly improve a process. A Kaizen Event is also called a Kaizen Blitz.

Reliable Plant Magazine has an article that looks back at a Kaizen Event at an aerospace company in Indiana to identify lessons that were learned, and how Kaizen Events can be improved. Some of the suggestions include:

• Keep the kaizen training to what is actually needed for the event.


• Provide the kaizen training at the right time.


• Properly scale the scope of the kaizen event.


• Measure twice, cut once.


• Do not tick off your maintenance support crew.


• Pick the right lean tool for the job and use it well.


• Watch out for collateral damage.


• Go to gemba and stay there the entire week.

This is an excellent article that I recommend reading.