Kaizen - Always to the better

Definition:

Kaizen, a term signifying Continuous Improvement, finds its origin in two Japanese words:

• Change: Kai

• Good/Better: Zen

Brief History:

• Post-World War II Era: The philosophy of Kaizen, ingrained in Japanese work culture, primarily surfaced following World War II, marking Japan's industrial ascent.

• W. Edwards Deming's Influence: Post the war, American statistician and Quality Control Expert W. Edwards Deming significantly influenced Kaizen's evolution via his seminars on Total Quality Management (TQM) in Japan.

• Toyota's Adaptation: During the 1950s, Toyota Production System (TPS) emerged, rooted in Kaizen principles. Spearheaded by Taiichi Ohno, TPS ardently championed the tenets of "Continuous Improvement" and "Eliminating Waste."

• Global Recognition: The late 1980s saw the global acknowledgment of Kaizen, thanks to Masaaki Imai's pivotal work, "Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success". This book elucidates Kaizen's foundational principles and their application in Japanese enterprises.

Application in Purchasing:

• Supplier Performance: Adopting a continuous improvement perspective to incessantly evaluate and enhance supplier performance, thereby streamlining supplier management.

• Efficient Procurement: By standardizing processes, delays and errors are minimized, paving the way for swifter procurement procedures.

• Simplified Records: Process standardization facilitates an uncomplicated and rapid access system for records.

• Stock Optimization: Ensuring materials are ordered 'just-in-time', optimizing stock levels.

• Sustainability: A determined effort to curb waste and superfluous processes ensures a commitment to sustainability.

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References,

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming

• Bricks Matter: The Role of Supply Chains in Building Market-Driven Differentiation

• Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production

• Chat Based AI System - ChatGPT

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Photo: https://express.adobe.com/

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