Continuous Improvement Firm:

Kaizen

Successful Implementation of Kaizen Strategy

7 Conditions

The Problem Addressed

One of the most difficult aspects of introducing and implementing Kaizen strategy is assuring its continuity.

When a company introduces something new, such as quality circles, or total quality management (TQM), it experiences some initial success, but soon such success disappear like fireworks on summer night and after a while nothing is left, and management keeps looking for a new flavor of the month.

This if because the company lacks the first three most important conditions for the successful introduction and implementation of Kaizen strategy:

1. Top management commitment

2. Top management commitment

3. Top management commitment

Top Management Commitment

All conditions are important. Without top management supporting every move, however, the trial will be short-lived regardless of other preconditions.

Top management may express commitment in many different ways, and it must take every opportunity to:

• preach the message,

• become personally involved in following up the progress of Kaizen, and

• allocate resources for successful implementation.