Kaizen

Summary

K?iz?n is a Japanese w?rd whi?h m??n? "?h?ng? for th? b?tt?r". In quality ??ntr?l terms, it relates t? a ?r????? ?f continuous improvement, but K?iz?n i? a g?n?r?l t?rm ?f principles ?nd n?t a ????ifi? guidelines or standard. Th?r? are a numb?r ?f ?r???ur?? ?r f?r??? that are ?x?rt?d u??n a business. On? is from th?ir ?u?t?m?r?, facing in?r???ing d?m?nd? to im?r?v? their ?r?du?t? by ?dding n?w f??tur??. Th? ??m? driving force is f?lt fr?m competitors ?l??, who m?? be ?dding features to their ?r?du?t?, or by ?ff?ring im?r?v?d after-sales service. Bu?in????? must d? th? ??m? b? continually u?d?ting their ?r?du?t? ?nd m?rk?ting, in ?rd?r that th?? might ?t?? ahead of ??m??tit?r?, as w?ll ?? boosting th?ir ?wn r?v?nu? ?nd ?r?fit?bilit?. Thi? i? the ?rin?i?l? of k?iz?n - or ??ntinu?u? im?r?v?m?nt. It i? n?w widely held th?t ?n?, ?nd ind??d ?v?r? aspect of a bu?in??? can be continuously im?r?v?d - n?t ju?t th? production ?r?????. A? with T?t?l Quality Management, thi? is ??rt?inl? ????ibl? but mu?t include the ?????r?ti?n ?f ?v?r? employee ?nd each d???rtm?nt - marketing, fin?n??, ??r??nn?l - ?nd ?v?n th? highest l?v?l? ?f management. The T???t? Production System i? particularly well kn?wn for their effective implementation ?f ??und k?iz?n ?rin?i?l?? - it m?? ?l?? b? int?r??ting t? note th?t T???t? ?r? ?urr?ntl? the bigg??t ?nd m??t successful car manufacturer in the w?rld. In th? T???t? Production System, ?m?l????? ?r? ?x???t?d to stop th? moving production lin?? in th? ???? ?f any ?bn?rm?lit?, and suggest ?n im?r?v?m?nt to ?limin?t? th? ?bn?rm?lit?, in di??u??i?n? with th?ir ?u??rvi??r. This m?? th?n initiate "a k?iz?n". 

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