The Kaizen Hub

6 principles to make the best companies even better:   [one percent at a time] Kaizen is a systematic approach where all employees work together to make small, incremental changes.   The term combines two Japanese words:   "kai" -change- + "zen" -good-   Literally meaning "change for the better."   Here are 6 Kaizen principles to skyrocket your organization:   1/ Question best practices   Best practices often become sacred cows that hinder progress -even when they're no longer optimal for current conditions-   The most dangerous phase in a business is “we've always done it this way”   Don't justify past methods.   *** 2/ View problems as opportunities   The problem itself isn't the issue. The issue is your attitude and what you do as a result.   Seize the growth opportunity.   *** 3/ Embrace hardship   Being constant and patient will lead you to outperform the eager individuals who burn bright and fast.   Difficult situations force deeper thinking. And they take as long as they take.   Slowly can be the fastest way to get where we want to be.   *** 4/ Choose simple solutions   People often accept the complex solution to a problem without considering the simpler ones at all.   Use the simplest solution, which ticks all the boxes.   *** 5/ Be data-driven   Deming once said: "In God we trust. All others must bring data."   Measure improvements objectively.   *** 6/ Creativity > Capital   Prioritize creativity over capital.   Creative approaches often yield more sustainable solutions.   Use wisdom before spending money. *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

Your operations team can see the value AI brings to the shop floor. But your CFO? Still waiting for the business case. And this is the gap limiting AI adoption in manufacturing. Operations leaders know what's broken: → Downtime that vanishes into "unplanned maintenance" → Rework costs hidden across multiple departments → Scrap that gets written off without RCA But finance leaders need a different conversation. When finance leaders can see: -Hidden costs surfacing in real-time -Operational improvements mapped to P&L impact -ROI projections backed by actual floor data That's when transformation accelerates. Retrocausal has planned a webinar dedicated to them. Do More with Less: How CFOs Can Unlock Efficiency and Financial Impact with AI Tuesday Oct 28th 10am PDT / 1pm EDT Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/dGNcvw6Y PS. Know a CFO, VP of Finance, or Controller in manufacturing? Bring them into the conversation!

How I Identify the root cause of an issue rather than just treating its symptoms: Infographics by Govind Tiwari,PhD. Give him a follow 5 Whys is a simple but powerful method for root cause analysis. It's an iterative interrogative technique used to explore cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. It was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda. Let's break it down: 1/ Start with a problem statement ↳ State the specific problem you're facing ↳ Be as precise as possible to avoid ambiguity 2/ Ask the First "Why?" ↳  Question why the problem is occurring ↳  Base your answer on facts you can confirm, not guesses 3/ Ask "Why?" four more times ↳ For each answer you get, ask "Why?" again ↳ Continue this process x4 4/ Know When to Stop ↳  Ask "Why?" till no more useful responses ↳  You might need to go beyond five, or stop before 5/ Address the Root Cause: ↳ Once you've identified the root cause, develop corrective actions 6/ Monitor Your Measures: ↳ Check the situation to ensure the problem doesn't recur. *** Do you want exclusive access to our Gemba Walk checklists? Click here: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

The 5S Method Credit to Ben Meer. Follow him for more systems on health, wealth, and free time. Original post below: The Japanese secret to clutter-free living: "The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don't." — Joshua Becker Imagine stepping into your home, where every item has its place and your spaces spark joy. Your daily chores are no longer a dreaded task but a simple, swift act of maintaining your personal oasis. Sound far-fetched? It's entirely achievable with the 5S Method. Developed for Japanese factories, 5S is equally powerful for your home and workplace. Rebecca, home system expert and writer of “Your House Machine” newsletter popularized it. Step 1: Sort - Seiri Step 2: Set in Order - Seiton Step 3: Shine - Seiso Step 4: Standardize - Seiketsu Step 5: Sustain - Shitsuke Tidiness isn't just about cleaning up; it's about personal transformation and designing the life you want. As Marie Kondo said: "The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.” *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

You have 99 reasons not to change and only one reason to do so: What got you here won't get you where you wanna go. Choose wisely. *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

We chase the next big thing. Moonshot innovation. Overnight success. But there's something better out there: Kaizen The philosophy of tiny, relentless improvements. Not one massive leap. A thousand small steps. Transformation over time. In the West, we worship: → disruptive innovation → technological breakthroughs → attention-grabbing transformations But innovation is one-shot, with uncertain results. Kaizen changed business worldwide. It's about low-cost, common-sense improvements that accumulate into a competitive advantage. Not just a business strategy— a life philosophy. Every aspect of existence can be refined with gentle care. Remember: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Kaizen is about taking that step. And then another.  And another.

Ten Principles of Kaizen Credit to Eric Partaker. Follow him for more posts about business, leadership & self-mastery. Original post below: The Japanese secret to non-stop improvement. Kaizen is your new secret weapon. It's a Japanese concept that means "change for better." It started in the business world but can help anyone improve their life, bit by bit. It's all about small steps that lead to big changes over time. Why try it? ➟ Because it's doable. ➟ It reduces overwhelm. ➟ It brings continuous growth. Here's how to put kaizen into action: 1/ Choose one thing: Start small. A tiny habit. A simple routine. Improve it little by little. This makes change easier. 2/ Learn from mistakes: Messed up? No sweat. Figure out what went wrong, learn, and move on. 3/ Celebrate small wins: Found a quicker route to work? Great! The small things add up. 4/ Value feedback: Listen to what others say. Their insights can help you improve. 5/ Stay consistent: Make small improvements part of your daily routine. 6/ Get others involved: Share your journey. Kaizen loves company. Grow together. 7/ Reflect on your progress: Take time to look back at your improvements. Then, set new goals. 8/ Keep it simple: The best changes are often the simplest. Don't overcomplicate things. 9/ Be patient: Good things take time. Keep at it, and you'll see results. 10/ Never stop: There's always room for improvement. Keep looking for ways to get better. Kaizen is more than a concept. It's a way of life. Take the first step. Then another. You'll be surprised how far it takes you. *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

Procrastination isn't laziness. It's self-harm.   And applying Kaizen is the only way you can get over it. Procrastination is derived from the Latin verb 'procrastinare' - putting off something until tomorrow.   Kaizen principles are poles apart, and you can use them to combat procrastination.   Here are 5 key differences:   1/ Core Behaviour   Procrastination: ➟ Postponing important tasks despite knowing consequences Kaizen: ➟ Making small, consistent improvements right now   2/ Timeframe   Procrastination: ➟ Sacrificing future success for present comfort Kaizen: ➟ Investing small efforts for cumulative future benefits   3/ Decision Pattern   Procrastination: ➟ Emotional decisions over logical ones Kaizen: ➟ Process-oriented decisions focused on CI   4/ Result   Procrastination: ➟ Missed deadlines, increased stress Kaizen: ➟ Muda silent killer   5/ Feedback Loop   Procrastination: ➟ Each delay makes the next one easier to justify Kaizen: ➟ Each improvement builds momentum for the next Improvement doesn't require perfect conditions.  It requires consistent, immediate action. No matter how small. *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

Can you really understand OEE in 60 seconds? Credits to Angad S.. Give him a follow Most manufacturers think they're running efficiently. Then they calculate their OEE and realize they're wrong. Here's your 60 second crash course: OEE = Availability × Performance × Quality It's the reality check every plant needs. And yes, you can grasp the basics in under a minute. But here's what most people miss in those 60 seconds: → You can't improve what you don't measure → Small losses compound into massive inefficiencies → Every minute of downtime costs more than you think The example in my infographic below shows 75% OEE. That means 25% of planned production time is pure waste. In an 8-hour shift, that's 2 hours of lost productivity. Every. Single. Day. World class manufacturers hit 85%+ OEE. Average plants struggle to reach 60-75%. Many don't even know their number. The biggest OEE killers? - Unplanned downtime -equipment failures- - Changeovers taking too long - Quality escapes and rework - Micro-stoppages you ignore - Running slower than designed speed Here's my advice: 1. Start measuring OEE daily 2. Break it into the 3 components 3. Attack your biggest loss first 4. Don't try to fix everything at once Manufacturing is a game of margins. OEE shows you exactly where those margins are hiding. What's your plant's OEE? *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

Numbers tell stories too Credit to Simone Fuscone. Give him a follow The quickest way to master data storytelling? Understanding plot types. Visual representations help communicate insights effectively. Data storyteller must choose appropriate charts for their audience. Each plot serves different purposes and highlights specific patterns. Here are 11 chart types every Kaizen leader should know: 1/ Bar Chart ➞ Bar Charts work best for discrete data ➞ You see differences between groups 2/ Line Chart ➞ Line Charts reveal trends and patterns clearly ➞ They connect dots to display continuity 3/ Pie Chart ➞ Pie Charts work for proportional relationships only ➞ Limit to few categories 4/ Scatter Plot ➞ Scatter Plots identify correlations and outliers easily ➞ Each point represents two measurements clearly 5/ Histogram ➞ Histograms group numerical data into bins ➞ Shape reveals the distribution type quickly 6/ Area Chart ➞ Area Charts highlight cumulative totals visually ➞ Stacked versions show composition changes well 7/Radar Chart ➞ Radar Charts display multivariate data on axes ➞ Star-like shape reveals strengths immediately 8/ Map ➞ Maps show spatial relationships effectively ➞ Color gradients indicate regional differences 9/ Heatmap ➞ Heartmaps display correlations in large datasets ➞ Patterns become visible at glance 10/ Bubble Chart ➞ Bubble Charts use position and size ➞ They show three dimensions simultaneously 11/ Donut Chart ➞ Donut Charts leave space for additional information ➞ The central area displays summary metrics well Remember: The best chart is the one that answers your audience's question. *** We’re pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone by building our first AI-embedded Kaizen toolkit. Meanwhile, you can get here our Gemba Walk checklists to identify more waste and become a trusted Kaizen practitioner. Click here to get exclusive access now: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX