Continuous Improvement & Teamwork
The philosophy of Continuous Improvement or Kaizen is analytical and rigorous. It focuses is on a constant
repetition of a process of problem solving. The main steps in this process are:
- Form a team and train
- Understand the situation
- Select an issue
- Analyse the problem
- Plan a change
- Do the plan
- Check the results
- Make routine if appropriate
Teams
Teams of employees are key to carrying out Continuous Improvement successfully. By developing effective
teams who have the power to make positive changes happen in their work areas, our client companies have
reaped the benefits of improved performance.
Achieving Success
Managers are always surprised by just how much improvement teams of their employees can achieve. By assigning
the responsibility for solving a major problem to a team, and giving them the necessary support to carry out
their chosen solution - managers can free up their own time for the important work of medium and long-term
planning.
Ownership
By working through the process of solving a major problem, a team of employees ends up understanding the
wider implications of that problem. The team also gains a real sense of ownership of their chosen solution.
The team members are then better able to sell that solution to all the employees it will directly affect.
This means that the solution will be accepted and will succeed.
Eliminating Waste
Continuous Improvement ultimately aims to eliminate all kinds of waste in manufacturing processes. This is a
journey of learning and development. Continuous Improvement exists only where people understand that the
process must never end. It must be applied to every aspect of work with unending enthusiasm.
Continuous improvement means continuous competitive advantage.
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