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  • August 2018 (Revised July 2019)
  • Background Note
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Conducting a Kaizen

By: Willy Shih
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:8
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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.)
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About The Author

Willy C. Shih

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • August 2018 (Revised July 2019)
    • Faculty Research

    Conducting a Kaizen

    By: Willy Shih
Related Work
  • Conducting a Kaizen By: Willy Shih
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