Kaizen Event
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A kaizen event is a focused, time-boxed improvement activity where a team intensively improves a specific process.
Definition
A kaizen event (also called a kaizen workshop or rapid improvement event) is a focused, time-boxed activity where a dedicated team intensively works on improving a specific process. Typically lasting 3-5 days, the team analyzes the current state, designs improvements, and implements changes during the event itself. Kaizen events accelerate improvement by removing participants from daily duties, providing dedicated time and resources, and creating momentum through visible results. They complement daily kaizen by addressing larger improvements that exceed what incremental daily efforts can achieve.
Examples
A week-long kaizen event focused on reducing changeover time for a machining cell. The team of operators, engineers, and maintenance personnel analyzed current changeovers, redesigned the process, built new fixtures, and achieved 70% reduction by week's end. The event accomplished in five days what would have taken months through normal improvement channels.
Key Points
- Kaizen events require dedicated time—participants should be freed from normal duties
- Pre-work (data gathering, scheduling, preparation) ensures productive event time
- Implementation during the event demonstrates feasibility and creates momentum
- Post-event follow-up is critical—sustaining changes requires attention
Common Misconceptions
Kaizen events replace daily kaizen. Events address larger issues; daily kaizen handles ongoing incremental improvement. Both are necessary—events for breakthrough, daily kaizen for continuous refinement.
Results from kaizen events always sustain. Without follow-up, sustaining plans, and management attention, improvements often fade. The event is the beginning, not the end, of improvement.