What is Kaizen Blitz?
A Kaizen Blitz is an intensive and focused approach to process improvement. Kaizen means “continuous improvement” and Blitz means “lightening fast.” This continuous improvement methodology combines Lean Manufacturing tools such as the 5S’s of Workplace Organization and Standardization, Cells, Pull/Kanban, Set-up Reduction, and Line Balancing. Each tool incorporates team empowerment, brainstorming, and problem solving to rapidly make improvements to a specific product or portions of your processes.
Why Do a Kaizen Blitz?
The Kaizen methodology has been used extensively for improving the organization of work in factories and actual methods used to manufacture products. The results are real-time with implementation usually occurring within a week. Not only will you obtain immediate improvements to your process – you will also develop a list of other improvement opportunities that your staff can investigate and implement after the Kaizen event. The Kaizen process provides immediate tangible results and motivation for ongoing continuous improvement within your company.
Benefits
- Immediate results
- Involvement of the workforce
- Visual, action orientation
- Can use on an ongoing basis. once the concept is mastered
- Fosters communication
- Creative vs. capital investments
- People think from “business” perspective
- Effective implementation due to team approach
