Publications
Publications
- August 2018 (Revised July 2019)
- HBS Case Collection
Conducting a Kaizen
By: Willy Shih
Abstract
Kaizen, meaning change for the better in Japanese, is a set of activities directed at improving standardized work, equipment, and procedures for carrying out daily production or other business operations. It was popularized by Toyota as an integral part of its Toyota Production System. This note describes some of the underlying practices and provides a simple outline for conducting a Kaizen event.
Keywords
Best Practices; Continuous Improvement; Kaizen; Process Improvement; 5S; Muda; Toyota Production System; Production; Service Operations; Performance Improvement; North and Central America; Asia; Japan
Citation
Shih, Willy. "Conducting a Kaizen." Harvard Business School Background Note 619-016, August 2018. (Revised July 2019.)