7 Goals

1. Making the job easier

2. Removing drudgery from the job

3. Removing nuisance from the job

4. Making the job safer

5. Making the job more productive

6. Improving product → quality

7. Saving time and cost

→ Kaizen: 5 Principles

Suggestion Systems: American-style vs. Japanese-style

According to the Japan Human Relations Association, the Japanese-style suggestion system stresses the morale boosting benefits of positive employee participation, while the American-style suggestion system stresses the suggestion's economic benefits and provides economic incentives.

→ Radical Improvement (Kaikaku): Kore 10 Tips

→ Kaizen Mindset

Three Stages of the Suggestion System

1. Encouragement. In the first stage, management should make every effort to help the workers provide suggestions, no matter how primitive, for the betterment of the worker's job and the workshop. This will help the workers look at the way they are doing their jobs.

2. Education. In the second stage, management should stress employee education so that employees can provide better suggestions. In order for the workers to provide better suggestions, they should be equipped to analyze problems and the environment. This requires education.

3. Efficiency. Only in the third stage, after the workers are both interested and educated, should management be concerned with the economic impact of the suggestions.

You'll encounter difficulties if you try to skip stages one and two and move straight to the third stage.

→ Kaizen Culture: 8 Key Elements 

Main Subjects for Suggestions

In order of importance:

1. Improvement in one's own work

2. Savings in energy, material, and other resources  >>>

3. Improvement in the working environment

4. Improvements in machines and processes

5. Improvements in jigs and tools

6. Improvements in office work

7. Improvements in product → quality

8. Ideas for new products

9. Customer services and customers relations

10. Others