Every successful business needs a hard-working, efficient and happy workforce, which is why HR is such an important function of any company, of any size. Smart entrepreneurs, directors, and HR directors are always looking for ways to further motivate their employees and gain even better results for them and incorporating Kaizen management is an effective way to do this. The concept of Kaizen originated in Japan and then spread around the world. It's becoming increasingly popular, so let's see what it is, and what it can do for you, your business and your workforce.
Just What Is Kaizen?
Kaizen simply means 'change for better', so in short, it's a concept that aims to bring improvement to those who adopt it and those who work under them. It first took route in Japanese manufacturing companies, but in actual fact it owes its origins to American business advisors who were in the country after the end of the Second World War, as part of the Marshall Plan, so in effect, it has always been a global business philosophy rather than simply a Japanese one. If you had to sum up Kaizen in two words, it could be said to be 'continuous improvement', and this is why it has formed a central part of lean manufacturing and lean thinking. It can be utilized for any kind of business no matter if you operate in manufacturing, retail or service industry.
The Four Keys To Kaizen
The wheel, or circle, is a powerful symbol in Japan. After all, it's closely associated with Zen and features in the center of the Japanese national flag. A wheel is also used to represent Kaizen, and its four key steps that make up its circle: plan, do, check, and act. It's important to plan what you intend to do by setting specific goals; after this, you'll be able to do – that is, put the plan into action. The third stage involves checking that the success of your plan matches your predictions, and finally, you can act to adjust your plan if needed. By following these four simple stages, you can achieve continual improvement and meet and exceed your goals.
Why Kaizen Is Great For Managers And HR Professionals
Learning the concept of Kaizen and applying it to how you plan and work can bring rapid self-improvement and positive results. Once learned, it can also be used in the wider workplace as a whole, creating a workforce that knows its targets and knows how to measure their success and take action to achieve their goals. That's why managers and HR professionals are the perfect candidates for Kaizen training, as they'll then be able to disseminate their knowledge to the wider workplace, ensuring the best practices are adopted and continual improvement becomes a company-wide mantra.
Helping Employees Feel Part Of The Process
Some management processes leave workers feeling little more than a cog in a machine, and this is hardly likely to inspire them to work hard and give their all. Kaizen management, as explained by Kanbanize the specialists in Kaizen training and practices, means that all workers are part of the same process of continual improvement, no matter how long they've worked for a company or what level of seniority they hold. With everyone adopting the same approach to planning and work, you'll also find that work processes of all kinds go smoother and that the company as a whole becomes more efficient.
A Powerful Motivational Tool
A workplace full of dedicated and highly motivated employees is a powerful tool for any business to have at its disposal, which is why all HR professionals understand the importance of a close and happy workforce. Kaizen can be a powerful motivational tool, especially when combined with good working conditions, opportunities for promotion, and fair remuneration. Employees of all levels love targets and goals, and that's at the very heart of the Kaizen culture. They will be further motivated because they will see and understand how individual changes that they make help with the overall changes that the company they work for is making.
Open To New Ideas
A company that stands still in today's competitive business world can be left behind, so it's important to look for new opportunities and be prepared to change. Once again, change leading to improvement is central to Kaizen, and once workers are aware of this, and the positive results it brings, they'll be much more willing to embrace change, rather than being afraid of it. This can also lead to workers making suggestions for change within the company themselves, and this can bring further efficiency as well as revealing new opportunities not currently being exploited.
Kaizen management is the perfect work process for the 21stcentury, a time when it's important to be lean, agile, and striving for improvement at every opportunity. By making Kaizen central to your HR and personnel management, you can create a more motivated workforce and one that's prepared to change and to make positive contributions to the future of the business.
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