Kaizen Blitz

• Description
  
  A Kaizen Blitz is an intensive and focused approach to Process Improvement. Kaizen means "continuous improvement" and Blitz means "lightening fast." This continuous improvement methodology combines Several Lean Manufacturing tools such as 5-S Visual Systems, Cellular Manufacture, Pull/Kanban Systems, Set-up Reduction, and Line Balancing. Each tool incorporates team empowerment, brainstorming, and problem solving to rapidly make improvements to a specific product or portions of your processes.
• Benefits
  
  
  • Achieve immediate, tangible results
  • Involvement of the workforce
  • Visual, action orientation
  • Can use ongoing, once learned concepts
  • Fosters communication
  • Creative vs. capital investments
  • People think from "business" perspective
  • Implementation smooth due to TEAM concept
• To Have a Successful Kaizen Blitz the Organization Must:
  
  
  • Have adequate resources to support this short-term, high level of intensity
  • Ensure the team is highly empowered and free of significant encumbrances
  • Be able to embrace disruption of that process for a few days
  • Be able to give the Kaizen Team (nearly) immediate priority in all areas
  • Have or develop, a strong communication plan with the entire organization before, during, and after this type of rapid-change event
• Options
  
  Utilizing a team made up of 5-8 people from the area to be improved, the Kaizen Event combines training, problem solving, action planning, and hands-on activities to rapidly make improvements to a specific product or process. Results of the Kaizen Event are real-time with implementation occurring within a one-week format. Not only will you obtain immediate improvements to your process-you will also develop a list of other improvement opportunities that your staff can investigate and implement after the Kaizen Event.