The Implementation of Kaizen in Mexican organizations: An Empirical Study

Abstract

In a turbulent business environment, fostered by economical and financial "crisis" for the years 2008 and 2009, certain Mexican industry organizations have started some efforts to improve their operations with other types of strategies, including the Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) philosophy. Thus, to realize an empirical study of this item in the Mexican industrial environment is important for three main reasons, that is the main purpose of this study: 1) understand how the Kaizen philosophy applies in the Mexican industry organizations; 2) analyze the presence and implementation of guiding principles, techniques and tools of the Kaizen philosophy in industrial enterprises, and 3) find the potential benefits that has brought them to be compared to a global environment "crisis", as well as the main difficulties that have to implement it and sustain it in time. The research study combine qualitative and quantitative approach present the main findings of the surveys (in tables and graphics) in terms of the application of Kaizen philosophy and human factor involvement.