Kaizen is the Sino-Japanese word for “improvement”. It is a Japanese philosophy that mainly focuses on continuous improvement throughout all aspects of life. Kaizen activities can improve every function of a business, from manufacturing to marketing and from the senior management to the assembly-line workers. It has been applied in various industries such as healthcare, psychotherapy, life-coaching, government, and banking. There are 5 important elements of Kaizen including teamwork, personal discipline, improved morale, quality circles, and suggestions for improvement.
We at Industrial Metal Powders (India) Pvt. Ltd. believes in serving industries with high-quality iron powders that are second to none. Our dedication, adept workforce, highly efficient manufacturing processes, and use of the latest technology make us stand apart from the rest. However, there is always a room for continuous improvement and thus to stay ahead in the competition, we believe in incorporating Kaizen activities in our organization and helping customers with the best solutions.
We have started implementing Kaizen activity in our factory since last year. We conduct training of our employees in groups to improve their understanding. A standardized process of attacking problems is developed to ensure a quick and lasting resolution. Our top management is committed to improving manufacturing processes to meet customer requirements better.
Frontline employees who encounter problems immediately try to use his knowledge, and initiative to find the solutions. If they cannot solve them, they share the problems with cross-functional teams and find a solution by using root cause analysis, so that the problems do not repeat.
All the kaizens are viewed, presented and appreciated in front of a plant-wide group. This helps in spreading the motivation of the whole group. This function we name as “Kaizen Mela”
In 2018, we have made a total of 124 kaizen’s in our facility to enhance the safety, product quality and productivity. Kaizen is really a worthwhile tool to improve your business process and satisfied the customer requirements.
So please think KAIZEN for better tomorrow….
Benefits of implementing Kaizen activities:
There are multiple benefits of implementing Kaizen activities in an organization that are as follows –
- Quality: Kaizen activities help in better products, service, work environment, practice, and processes.
- Cost: By implementing Kaizen, the expenses can be reduced, manpower can be utilized in a better way, and use of material, energy, and resources can be optimized for better output.
- On-time delivery:Â If all the processes are synchronized and production happens as per the regulations, then it helps in cutting delivery time, movement and non-value-added activities.
- Management: Some other benefits of implementing Kaizen include improving procedures, training, morale, administration, planning, flow, information systems, documentation, and reporting.
- Safety: Safety of employees is of paramount importance in any organization. Kaizen helps in decreasing hazardous situations and unsafe working conditions. Also, the chances of resource depletion and damage to the environment are very less.
How does IMP implement Kaizen activities?
Since last year, IMP has started implementing Kaizen activities in their factory. The company is dedicated to improving manufacturing processes to meet customer requirements better. IMP organizes a function named “Kaizen Mela”, where all the kaizens are viewed, presented and appreciated in front of a plant-wide group. This helps in spreading the motivation of the whole group. IMP incorporates various methods to implement Kaizen activities which are as follows:
- Employee Training: Employees are the greatest resource for ideas and skills. IMP conducts training of employees in groups to improve their understanding. Kaizen management includes employees in the improvement process from identification through implementation to recognition. Seeing their position in the company validated gives them the confidence and motivation to continue looking for more opportunities to improve.
- Standardized work: Standardized work is one of the most powerful lean tools that form the baseline for kaizen. When the standard is improved, the new standard becomes the baseline for further improvements, and so on. A standardized process of attacking problems is developed to ensure a quick and lasting resolution. All the products manufactured at IMP meets the quality standard so that the requirements of customers are fulfilled.
- Frontline employees: Frontline employees are the people who have the responsibility of doing the existing production work in an organization. The range and skills of frontline employees may vary widely, but mostly the entry-level jobs within the company fall into this category. Frontline employees who encounter problems in the production work immediately try to use their knowledge, and make an initiative to find the solutions quickly. If they cannot solve the problem then, they share the problems with cross-functional teams and find a solution by using root cause analysis, so that the problems do not repeat.
- Eliminate waste in all forms: For many companies, waste is looked at from a financial perspective. For Kaizen management, waste applies to all resources. One resource that can never be replenished is time. Every action should add some value to the company, and our employees at IMP are encouraged to look for ways to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The workplace is constantly adjusted to be organized in such a way that no unnecessary steps are taken.
Conclusion:
Kaizen is really a beneficial tool to improve business process and employee management. In 2018, IMP made a total of 124 kaizens in their facility to enhance safety, product quality, and productivity.