Curious Cat Management Improvement Library - Dictionary

Kaizen - continual improvement, with an emphasis on gradual never ending improvement. Toyota has embodied the practice of Kaizen over the years.

From Toyota Production System Terminology on their Georgetown, Kentucy plant website (Nov 2003). "Kaizen, or continuous improvement, is the hallmark of the Toyota Production System. The primary objectives are to identify and eliminate "Muda," or waste in all areas, including the production process. "Kaizen" also strives to ensure quality and safety. Its key elements emphasize making a task simpler and easier to perform, re-engineering processes to accommodate the physical demands on team members, increasing the speed and efficiency of the work process, maintaining a safe work environment, and constantly improving the product quality."

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