Kaizen Institute Thailand

“KAIZEN™ means improvement. Moreover, it means continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life, and working life. When applied to the workplace KAIZEN™ means continuing improvement involving everyone – managers and workers alike.” – Masaaki Imai, Founder of Kaizen Institute

What is KAIZEN™?

Over 30 years ago, Masaaki Imai, the father of KAIZEN™, became a pioneer in spreading the KAIZEN™ philosophy globally. With the goal of helping companies implement this methodology, he founded KAIZEN™ Institute. ​Today, KAIZEN™ is recognized around the world as a key strategic pillar of businesses.​ Dive into the KAIZEN™ mindset and learn more about this philosophy.

The Core of KAIZEN™

There are 5 Fundamental KAIZEN™ Principles that are embedded in every KAIZEN™ tool and every KAIZEN™ behavior. The 5 principles are: Know your Customer, Let it Flow, Go to Gemba, Empower People and Be Transparent. The implementation of those 5 principles in any organization is fundamentally important for a successful Continuous Improvement culture and to mark a turning point in the progression of quality, productivity, and labor-management relations.

KAIZEN™ Methodology Development History

The KAIZEN™ methodology has gradually developed over many decades. It was publicly and officially introduced to the world in the 1980s as a systematic methodology through the best-selling book “KAIZEN™” by Masaaki Imai, the founder of Kaizen Institute.

• 1930 – Masaaki Imai is born in Tokyo, Japan. The first domestic automotive production is planned in Japan, and the Just-In-Time concept is observed.
• 1940 – World War II to post-war economic reform period commences in Japan.
• 1950 – Imai works at the Japan Productivity Center in the USA and accompanies Japanese executives to visit and learn from US manufacturers. Japanese companies gain strength in their quality and worldwide competitiveness.
• 1960 – Imai works with Shoichiro Toyoda to observe the American way of business.
• 1980 – Imai works internationally with Taiichi Ohno to spread the message of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
• 1986 – KAIZEN™ is introduced to the world for the first time, as a systematic management methodology.
• 1990’s – KAIZEN™ appears for the first time as a word in the Oxford dictionary. The term Lean was coined. Lean concepts are promoted through various publications, to include Imai’s GEMBAKAIZEN™ book. Tools, such as Six Sigma, gain popularity though clouding the importance of a systematic approach. Kaizen Institute continues to offer practical, hands-on methods that fit the local culture and business practice, when implementing KAIZEN™ within organizations.
• 2000’s – KAIZEN™ Management System (KMS) is developed, to help companies to improve based on a systematic QCD Model. KAIZEN™ Change Model (KCM) is added to enhance a KAIZEN™ culture, mindset and behaviors of the organization. Many corporations start developing their own improvement strategies based on KAIZEN™, seeking to gain sustainable improvements and a competitive advantage within their markets.
• Today – KAIZEN™ Business System (KBS) supports organizations to achieve Continuous Improvement and sustainable growth.
  Kaizen Institute continues to spearhead global development for the KAIZEN™ methodology, bringing awareness to Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.