Kaizen: The Japanese Method for Transforming Habits, One Small Step at a Time

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Current-state analysis — various factors, e.g., lead time, service, performance, cost, features, etc., are collectively examined for improvement potential. If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves repeatedly, not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the status of your plans. Here, you’ll get a proven method that can take you to new heights.

As part of the aid to allied nations after the war, not directly including the Marshall Plan after World War II, American occupation forces brought in experts to help with the rebuilding of Japanese industry while the Civil Communications Section (CCS) developed a management training program that taught statistical control methods as part of the overall material. Homer Sarasohn and Charles Protzman developed and taught this course in 1949–1950. Sarasohn recommended W. Edwards Deming for further training in statistical methods. Sarah Harvey’s book Kaizen: The Japanese Method for Transforming Habits, One Small Step at a Time, explains it all. If you’ve been struggling to improve yourself, this simple yet powerful tool may be what you’ve been searching for. Let’s take a look at how it works. The Toyota Way Value stream mapping (VSM) is a technique that Pixar used to improve their bottling factory’s efficiency. It involves visualising – like with a diagram or sketch – the key steps of the product or service journey from start to finish and using this to identify areas which can be streamlined by reducing waste, saving time or any other sort of improvements that would make the process and/or end product better.M. M. Feldman (1992). "Audit in psychotherapy: the concept of Kaizen" (PDF). Psychiatric Bulletin. Royal College of Psychiatrists. 16 (6): 334–336. doi: 10.1192/PB.16.6.334. S2CID 638586. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-16. Part of practising self-compassion is not over-stretching yourself by doing things that you don’t want to do. Do you find that you are overwhelmed with trying to see everybody and fit everything in? Try to designate at least one or two nights per week for vegging out, doing your washing and cooking something healthy. Having more control over your own schedule and setting boundaries can feel wondrously liberating. Kaizen's philosophy empowers employees by providing them with the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of their work environment. Engaging employees in the decision-making process and valuing their suggestions fosters a sense of ownership, empowerment, and job satisfaction. When employees see their ideas and efforts being implemented and making a difference, their morale and engagement levels increase, leading to a more motivated and committed workforce. Waste reduction and cost savings

The Kaizen method was originally pioneered by the US government as part of the Marshall plan to help Japan restart its economy after the devastation of World War II. The step-by-step approach to change helped many Japanese companies become global corporations, most notably Toyota, and because it became synonymous with helping the automotive giant achieve success, Kaizen became known as “the Toyota Way.” To do things kaizen you make incremental changes, e.g. 1% steps of improvement at a time. In other words, no drastic changes. Kaizen is almost a philosophical method where processes that you focus on grow naturally with intention. Intention is the key. What you focus on improves and you should declutter and get rid of objects and thoughts that drain you of energy. Taking the First Step with PDCA". 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010 . Retrieved 17 March 2011.

In this book, it is well explained about how Kaizen came along (the history) and I loved reading about it. It's a story of its own and I thoroughly enjoyed reading that part.

Misiurek, Bartosz (2016). Standardized Work with TWI: Eliminating Human Errors in Production and Service Processes. New York: Productivity Press. ISBN 9781498737548. Kaizen is a Japanese word that means “continuous improvement”. Kaizen aims to make small, incremental improvements in processes and systems, leading to significant long-term benefits. The Kaizen PhilosophyFurthermore, Kaizen emphasises the importance of going to the source, also known as "Gemba." This principle encourages individuals to directly observe and engage with the actual place where work is done, enabling a deeper understanding of processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. In addition, it advocates for standardisation and standard work, promoting the establishment of clear processes and procedures that can be continuously refined. Kaizen in practice The Toyota Production System is known for kaizen, where all line personnel are expected to stop their moving production line in case of any abnormality, and, along with their supervisor, suggest an improvement to resolve the abnormality which may initiate a kaizen. This feature is called Jidoka or "autonomation". This book is regarding how the Kaizen way of life has changed the author's life in general and how it is applicable to our lives as well. Melnyk, S.A., Calantone, R.J., Montabon, F.L., Smith, R.T.: Short-term action in pursuit of long-term improvements: Introducing Kaizen events. Prod. Invent. Manag. J. 39(4), 69–76 (1998) Of all the virtues we can learn, no trait is more useful, more essential for survival, and more likely to improve the quality of life than the ability to transform adversity into an enjoyable challenge.”

The Japanese manufacturer of plumbing fixtures also benefited from the kaizen approach to improving quality, with their signature Washlet selling over 50 million units worldwide. In Sunaqua TOTO Ltd., kaizen helps provide a comfortable work environment for people with disabilities. Kaizen led them to redesign trash receptacles for easier transportation and rearranging supplies for easier handling. Just six minutes of reading before bed has been shown to reduce stress levels by two-thirds and promote good sleep. Choose a couple of nights of the week where you read before bed rather than look at a screen and see if it makes a difference. Yokozawa, K., Steenhuis, H.J.: The influence of national level factors on international kaizen transfer: an exploratory study in the Netherlands. J. Manuf. Technol. Manag. 24(7), 1051–1075 (2012)In the realm of Kaizen, several key concepts form the pillars of its philosophy. These concepts provide the framework for implementing continuous improvement practices within an organisation. Let's explore these concepts in more detail. Incremental and continuous improvement Bodek, Norman (2010). How to do Kaizen: A new path to innovation - Empowering everyone to be a problem solver. Vancouver, WA, US: PCS Press. ISBN 978-0-9712436-7-5.