How does Kaizen improve productivity
Kaizen is a productivity philosophy originating from
Japan that works to make small incremental changes in the manufacturing
process. Eliminating any type of wastes in a facility will help to improve
productivity and the methodology of Kaizen promotes a clean and organized
workspace to keep workers moving around the facility much more efficiently.
While the small changes may not make a noticeable impact on productivity
overnight, Kaizen does facilitate an environment that allows for continuous
improvement. Over weeks, months, and years, the facility will be operating far
more productively than before Kaizen was implemented. Even as the workplace
becomes more and more productive, managers, supervisors, and workers will be
continuously looking for areas to improve.
There are a variety of tools and strategies Kaizen
promotes that directly impacts productivity. For instance, Gemba walks will
often cut out the unnecessary time and communication when a manager goes to the
production line to observe processes and speak with frontline employees. When
workers from different levels and departments are involved with decision
making, problem-solving skills will be improved and finding solutions for
identified issues will become more and more productive over time. The
philosophy of Kaizen promotes teamwork and helps to strengthen teams to more
efficiently solve problems.
Continuous improvement in Kaizen can be broken down
into six different steps with each promoting productivity:
- Standardize: Involve workers from all levels and departments to produce a process that can be repeated an organized.
- Measure: Using data that can be collected, decide if the process is efficient.
- Compare: Compare the data against requirements, does it save time or accomplish the desired result?
- Innovate: Look for new and better ways to achieve the same result and find more efficient routes or techniques.
- Standardize: Create defined processes that can be repeated for new and more efficient activities.
- Repeat: Go back to step one and go through the steps again!
The cycle may seem repetitive and exhaustive but is
very effective when it comes to improving the productivity within an
organization.
Productivity in the workplace can also be greatly
affected by employee morale. Although often overlooked, employee morale can
increase when workers know their voice matters and their ideas and suggestions
are taken seriously. Employees who are happier with their work environment are
more likely to work more productively. It is proven that engaged and satisfied
employees are more likely to stay working in an organization and employees who
are completing their work productively and efficiently will take personal
satisfaction in their own work.
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