How to Run a Kaizen Event

A practical, step-by-step guide to run a kaizen event. Kaizen is the concept behind it — here is how to do it in practice.

For the full concept, see Kaizen.

Steps

1. Standardise the current process so there is a stable baseline to improve.
2. Encourage everyone to spot problems and small improvement opportunities in their own work.
3. Test small changes quickly (often via PDCA — Plan, Do, Check, Act).
4. Adopt and standardise the changes that work, so gains are locked in.
5. Repeat continuously, and run focused kaizen events for bigger, cross-functional improvements.