Kaizen Approach Research Articles

Проектирование как тренд современной системы обучения

The paper deals with issues related to the project process in a modern educational institution. The history of using project method in the field of education is traced. The weak and strong points of applying project-based learning in the modern academic process are analyzed. The research focuses on a new educational model used at the basic university on the basis of various projects: start-ups, student special projects, student mini-projects. It presents a comparative characteristic of traditional and innovative projects. A comparative characteristic is based on the Kaizen approach and innovations. Such components as participants, pace and time interval, and result are considered as well. It is concluded that the start-up result is short-term but impressive because there are new, sometimes revolutionary ideas, solutions, inventions, products, and theories. It is relevant to analyze failures and mistakes made by students during the project-based learning. The research demonstrates that the project-based learning as a part of the academic process is to develop the creative personality, its intellectual capabilities, volitional powers, and professional behavior allowing the graduate to be competitive on the labor market.

Application of spaghetti chart for production process streamlining. Case study

Purpose: Improvement measures are taken unceasingly in organizations in order to optimize the obtained results in each sphere of a company’s functioning. This article presents the results of an improvement process conducted for a welding operation in the given production process. Design/methodology/approach: Taking advantage of the Kaizen approach, the article describes the results of this process and its visualization, which has been conducted with the help of a Spaghetti Chart tool. Findings: Initially, it has demonstrated that the analysis of real pathways of product value creation at the given worksite through application of the mapped-out changes brings about measurable effects. The applied worksite reorganization allowed for a limitation of an employee’s excessive movements at the worksite. In order to conduct a benchmark – both states “before” and “after” the introduction of improvement changes have been juxtaposed. Research limitations/implications: The presented analysis has a temporally and spatially limited dimension - this simultaneously being an impulse to extend research in the future. While conducting an analysis of an operator’s work, the problem must be dealt with in a broad perspective - we conduced type case study, so this is the limitation. Practical implications: The conducted analysis has taken place in real organizational conditions, using the example of a functioning worksite. Working with the “continuous improvement” approach, the instruments for development have been initiated in all spheres and levels of the given organization. Line employees have been motivated by the management to carry out single modernizations at the given worksite, which has influenced their own development. This in turn has stimulated their conscious need for active participation in the process of change. Originality/value: The conducted analysis has taken place in real organizational conditions, using the example of a functioning worksite.

Sustainable Tourism Sector Development in Negara Brunei Darussalam: Application of Total Quality Management Approach as Strategic Option

Tourism has been considered as one of the promising sectors for development that influences the achievement of sustainable growth through large scale employment generation and other related developmental initiatives. Tourism development requires sagacious plans and its implementation with effective coordination and communication among the tourism players. In the blueprint of World Travel and Tourism Council, 21st century travel plans should bring balance among the government priority, economical aspects, environmental issues and socio-cultural implications. For obtaining competitive and sustainable tourism sectors applying systems approach to change management with total quality management orientation has been considered as an important option. Present study aims to explore the prospects of tourism industry, identifies important problems and suggested strategies to harness utmost potentials through this sector. As methodology along with citation method some unstructured interview has been conducted on some policy experts, government officials in the relevant ministries, tour operators in the field level and some local people in the host destinations. Finally, data collected from the interview and literature review has been integrated into the final paper. The study found that although Brunei has an immense prospect for development as a unique tourist destination due to different attractions but in spite of that it could not reap expected benefits from this sector due some factors, such as, gap in the coordination among the various institutions, lack of promotional measures and the quality management problems etc. Thus, to improve the overall performance of tourism sector and make the sector more competitive, sustainable and vibrant present study suggests applying the Total Quality Management with special focus on Lean thinking and Kaizen approach as strategic options.

Application of Kaizen Concept with 8 Steps PDCA to Reduce in Line Defect at Pasting Process: A Case Study in Automotive Battery

Nowadays in very tight competition age, minimization of defect rate is targeted at all manufacturing production lines including in the process of automotive battery production. The purpose of this study was to reduce the dominant defect rate in the pasting process with Kaizen approach through 8 PDCA cycles. Kaizen implementation involves all parties in the company both management and employees in order to obtain optimal results. The eight cycles performed on Kaizen implementation are (i) Determination of theme, (ii) Targeting, (iii) Analysis of current conditions and problem-causing analysis, (iv) Root cause analysis of the problem, (v) Improvement plan, (vi) Implementation of the improvement, (vii) Evaluate the results, (viii) Standardization. Before Kaizen applied defect rate in the production process automotive batteries of 2.47% with the largest type of defect is plate scrap on the pasting process with a ratio of 2.45%. Kaizen implementation through 8 PDCA cycles implemented during 6 months managed to lower the defect rate to 1.52% or 0.08% better than the target set by the company of 1.60%. Improvements made due to jamming plate interference contributed to a 38 percent reduction in scrap plate in the pasting process.

Improving efficiency and safety in external beam radiation therapy treatment delivery using a Kaizen approach

IntroductionModern external beam radiation therapy treatment delivery processes potentially increase the number of tasks to be performed by therapists and thus opportunities for errors, yet the need to treat a large number of patients daily requires a balanced allocation of time per treatment slot. The goal of this work was to streamline the underlying workflow in such time-interval constrained processes to enhance both execution efficiency and active safety surveillance using a Kaizen approach. Methods and materialsA Kaizen project was initiated by mapping the workflow within each treatment slot for 3 Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators. More than 90 steps were identified, and average execution times for each were measured. The time-consuming steps were stratified into a 2 × 2 matrix arranged by potential workflow improvement versus the level of corrective effort required. A work plan was created to launch initiatives with high potential for workflow improvement but modest effort to implement. Time spent on safety surveillance and average durations of treatment slots were used to assess corresponding workflow improvements. ResultsThree initiatives were implemented to mitigate unnecessary therapist motion, overprocessing of data, and wait time for data transfer defects, respectively. A fourth initiative was implemented to make the division of labor by treating therapists as well as peer review more explicit. The average duration of treatment slots reduced by 6.7% in the 9 months following implementation of the initiatives (P = .001). A reduction of 21% in duration of treatment slots was observed on 1 of the machines (P < .001). Time spent on safety reviews remained the same (20% of the allocated interval), but the peer review component increased. ConclusionsThe Kaizen approach has the potential to improve operational efficiency and safety with quick turnaround in radiation therapy practice by addressing non–value-adding steps characteristic of individual department workflows. Higher effort opportunities are identified to guide continual downstream quality improvements.

Primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: The Kaizen approach to continued improvement in surgical outcomes

Primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: The Kaizen approach to continued improvement in surgical outcomes

Improving Efficiency and Safety in External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment Delivery Using a Kaizen Approach

Improving Efficiency and Safety in External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment Delivery Using a Kaizen Approach

Smarter radiation oncology.

32 Background: The evolution of radiation oncology (RO) has established granular and detailed CPT codes that define the process of care for patients receiving radiation services. And while each of these codes are legitimately and carefully crafted within the relative value system, they nonetheless serve as surrogates for treatment. As health care moves into a value based future, RO is uniquely situated to offer high-value and affordable cancer care. In addition, ASTRO’s ‘safety is no accident’ and other authoritative articles show a high emphasis of structure, a ‘learning curve’ in process but a dearth of direction on outcomes. A truly integrated practice standard for RO has therefore not yet been realized. Methods: Over the last 5-yrs, based on learning from incidents reported in our department and a risk mitigation study, we have reshaped our practice to be based on three measurable aspects – evidence based and consensus driven care pathways, patient experience and quality. By assimilating the cost perspective into this three-tiered matrix, we believe we have created a model for RO that is predictive of value. We summarize facets of this model that embrace structure, process and outcomes aspects of quality that we believe add most value to the care we provide. Results: The elements of Smarter Radiation Oncology (SRO) were determined to be process mapping, standardization of treatment pathways and toxicity grading, incident reporting, pre-treatment peer review planning contour rounds, our no-fly policy, the Kaizen approach to overhead mitigation, an electronic whiteboard for process co-ordination, survivorship, patient perception of care and the Z-score for measuring operational efficiencies. Conclusions: SRO has shown a sustained and substantial level of improvement in many aspects of the care we provide. And while it is designed to allow for the unencumbered freedom to practice RO, we are often times limited by payers who refuse care based on the artificial and differential aspects of complex therapy. We plan to present how SRO improves value by offering less expensive care that can be used as a foundation for a new episodic payment system based on cost. If adopted, the decision process of therapy becomes agnostic of technology and patient focused.

Voltage sags in the automotive industry: Analysis and solutions

The objective of this paper is to present the actual solutions used to solve process-interruption problems caused by voltage sags in a large automotive industry. A brief description of the industrial process is presented to focus attention on only the production units that are most vulnerable to voltage sags. Then, the industry's experience with interrupted production is reported and analyzed. A two-step procedure is proposed to evaluate the equipment that should be targeted for the application of compensating solutions. In applying this procedure, a criteria based on the Kaizen approach is used to select both the areas for intervention and the types of compensating solutions. The results consist of adequate compensating devices, characterized by very low costs in comparison to the costs associated with lost production, due to the negative effects of voltage sags. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions was proven by an ex-post analysis that lasted for one year after the intervention. The main conclusion of the study provides evidence that supports the real possibility of solving extensive voltage sag problems in large industries using economical devices. The practical implications of the method were demonstrated by extending it successfully to additional production units in the same factory.

Kaizen Approach to Evaluate Different Oil Sample &amp; Compare with Traditional Chromatographic Approach

Oil is one of the important formulations in Ayurveda for external as well as internal use. In this study, an evaluation of the commercially available Mahamasa, Mahanarayana, sesamum oil was conducted using two different chromatographic Technique (traditional & modified pre chromatographic TLC).HPTLC is an important designing tool to evaluate the oil sample .But sampling strategy of oil in the context of traditional chromatographic method is very lengthy, costly and less convenient. Here we have modulate the chromatographic method with respect to continuous improvement plan(Kaizen approach) such as need based acceptation of saponification and paradigm shift of direct application of oil on TLC plate. Direct application of oil on plate concept adopted from pre-chromatographic derivatization, which oil sample direct applied on TLC plate and developed with suitable solvent system, and during development only unsap material will we separate on TLC plate and then compare with traditional method outcome. Separation pattern of oil on plate are same both method traditional and modified method. That means separate operation will not require for oil separation like hydrolysis of oil, extraction of unsaponifiable material and sample preparation. However modified method is less time, chemical consuming and more convenient for economically chromatographic evaluation of oil sample.

A Lean &amp; Green Model for a production cell

The purpose of lean thinking is to promote continuous improvement culture within a business. Specifically, lean thinking describes a work philosophy already used by many manufacturers. Lean thinking considers the expenditure of resources, for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful. There has been much anecdotal evidence suggesting that a lean approach can help make the case for environmental impact reduction to businesses. We present an integrated lean and green approach that results in (i) a reduction in production waste and (ii) a reduction in environmental impact. Evidence-based results are first reviewed here. We show that previous findings identify a specific level of lean and manufacturing stability as a prerequisite for integrating lean and green at the manufacturing cell level. The main objective of this paper is to propose a new model, which we call the Lean & Green Model. In this model, we integrate environmental sustainability into pure lean thinking. The model presented in this paper adopts a Kaizen approach to improve mass and energy flows in manufacturing environments that already possess the necessary deployment level to apply lean thinking. The model was designed for, and is limited to, the cell level, which is the first stream level of a manufacturing business that supports the principles of lean thinking. The paper then presents findings from an application of the model in a major international engineering corporation, including the results of model deployment at the cell level. Such findings confirm that the Lean & Green Model can reduce resource use from 30 to 50% on average and has the potential to reduce the total cost of mass and energy flows in a cell by 5–10%.

Changing quality of life through the Personal Kaizen approach: a qualitative study

PurposeImai defined Kaizen as: “a means of continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life, and working life. At the workplace, Kaizen means continuing improvement involving everyone – managers and workers alike”. According to Imai, Kaizen can take at least three forms: Kaizen management; Group Kaizen; Individual Kaizen. In this last form, the strength of the continuous improvement of this Japanese management approach is focused on the work of each person as an individual. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore how some people have applied Personal Kaizen to their personal lives in order to improve their quality of life. The research question that drives the study is: How do some people apply Personal Kaizen in order to improve their quality of life?Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted. Using theoretical sampling, three persons who have implemented Personal Kaizen in their daily lives in order to change their quality of life were identified and interviewed. Similarly, documentary references of the three cases cited were used to generate a cross‐case analysis of the methodological techniques used.FindingsThis paper analyses the cases of three persons who have implemented Personal Kaizen in their lives in order to change their quality of life. The authors cross the empirical data with the theoretical framework of Kaizen and quality of life and try to corroborate three hypotheses.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper has the same limitations as all other qualitative research, including subjectivity of analysis and questionable generalisation of findings. Furthermore, there may well be a theoretical gap with respect to the geographic region, given that the paper only considers three individuals living in Mexico.Practical implicationsThe description of how three persons apply an individual Kaizen approach in order to change their quality of life may prove to be of value to other persons who wish to change their health‐related behaviour.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the limited existing literature on the Personal Kaizen approach and subsequently disseminates this information in order to provide impetus, guidance and support for improving individual quality of life.

The Kaizen approach within process innovation: findings from a multiple case study in Ibero-American countries

Processes and process innovation remains important in the management of today's organisations. In management and academic circles in Europe, Asia and the USA, the subject of processes and their innovation continue to be the basis of discussions regarding organisations' operations. The relevance of process innovation has gained weight as a result of various well-publicised failures by some major firms to operate new processes, leading to clients receiving low-quality goods and services. However, regarding the Iberian countries, academic references are few and far between regarding process innovation and Kaizen. Thus, it seems that previous studies represented in the literature show Kaizen from the angle of implementation of process innovation methods, and so the aim of this paper is to understand how these methods of process innovation are applied in the context of Kaizen in organisations operating in Ibero-American countries. This research has reported the results of a multiple case study, showing and providing empirical evidence grounded in the application of process innovation and the impact this has on the management of the organisation. In our study, we found that the application of process innovation basically can begin to help Ibero-American companies to understand (wake-up or become aware of) the deeper meaning of the term ‘process’ (theme of understanding); also, to begin to inspire (theme of synchronisation) the sense of managing from the point of view of process innovation and the philosophy of Kaizen in continuous improvement.

Streamlining the Head and Neck Treatment Process in Radiation Medicine Using a Kaizen Approach

Streamlining the Head and Neck Treatment Process in Radiation Medicine Using a Kaizen Approach

Cultural logics: a key issue in a Kaizen approach for malaria elimination

Background Patients’adherence to malaria treatment is a key issue in malaria control and elimination. But adherence remains problematic even when drug supply is good, putting human behaviour at the forefront of interest. The current approach to behaviour change strongly relies on communication interventions [1]. Such information and communication for behaviour change addresses people’s explicit and individual knowledge, on the premise that deficient or incorrect medical knowledge can be corrected and change behaviour. It hardly considers people’s implicit and collective knowledge or cultural logicsthat underlie concepts and practices. In this presentation, we propose a different approach. To use a metaphor, instead of observing, counting and measuring mushrooms, we study the mushroom’s mycelium the invisible web of threads beneath the soil that acts in symbiosis with its environment and pushes the mushrooms, the only visible part of the entire organism, across the soil. To know about the mushrooms (actions), one needs to understand the mycelium in its environment (the ‘web of meanings’, in Geertz’ [2] terms).

Building sustainable internal capacity for quality within a healthcare environment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss how using an experiential Lean Six Sigma training model will dramatically decrease the amount of time it takes to become competent and capable at applying process improvement within a healthcare environment. The model was first put into use in 2006 and has evolved and been evaluated to its current state.Design/methodology/approachTypical Lean approaches use a Kaizen methodology that is dependent on a skilled facilitator entering the organization and leading a team of process content experts from the organization through the change process. It is costly to hire such facilitators and does not build sustainable capacity within the organization or the internal knowledge to apply the Kaizen approach to the many varying sizes and complexities of improvements within the healthcare arena. The root of the problem is compounded by many factors including cost, urgency, political pressure, and inconsistency in the Lean Six Sigma body of knowledge. The principles behind the Kaizen methodology are fundamentally sound but the difference in the approach of this training model lies in who is doing the educating and application rather than changing the Lean Six Sigma body of knowledge.FindingsThe first finding is that more people are capable of almost instantly leading change, given the right model, than organizations may be aware of. The second is the paradigm that an expert has to “live at least 500 miles away” simply meaning that people working within their current system are rarely seen as capable to solve the organization's problems. The third is that any organization can easily have a complete infrastructure in place within a week and their staff leading improvements within two weeks. The organization can be at a level of self‐sustaining internal capacity within four months of starting their Lean Six Sigma journey.Originality/valueThe paper consequently focuses on value created for the organization, by the organization, with minimal support of an external consultant.

“Many Hands Make Light Work”: Using a Kaizen Approach to Ignite Innovation While Increasing Patient Safety and Productivity on an Obstetric Triage Unit

In response to increasing pressures, the health care industry is rapidly adopting methods and tools that have been successfully used in other industries. These tools develop health care associates to drive process changes and, thus, improve the performance of the organization. Methods that are being used in health care are the following: Six Sigma, Kaizen, and performance management.

Finding kaizen approach in small Mexican family businesses: an exploratory study

PurposeIn recent years, small family businesses in Mexico have come under enormous pressure from their external environment: this has resulted in serious problems affecting the running of their businesses, leading ultimately to a drop off in sales, customers and market share. Some have attempted to respond to this environment by using the Japanese approach of kaizen (meaning continuous improvement). The purpose of this paper is to ask if the kaizen approach is implemented in a specific environment such as that of small family businesses in Mexico.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, qualitative research was conducted using case studies as the research strategy. Two small, family‐run Mexican businesses were selected and studied (a restaurant and hotel) and a retrospective focus was adopted; four methods were used to gather data: direct observation; participative observation; documentary analysis; and semi‐structured interviews.FindingsThe findings of the three case studies show that the kaizen approach can be applied to small family businesses in Mexico, but that the degree of implementation depends on the evolutionary stage of each family business. Consequently, for this first exploratory study, it was found that, in the start‐up stage, only the First Guiding Principle of kaizen was observed, along with some indications for the Fourth Guiding Principle. Whereas for the expansion stage, the consolidated presence of the Second, Fourth and Fifth Guiding Principle of kaizen was observed. Finally, it was possible to identify certain techniques and tools at every stage in addition to the Guiding Principle. In closing, the exploratory study made it possible to investigate the major enablers and inhibitors that a family business goes through.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was based in two case studies. However, rather than seeking empirical generalisation, the research tried to examine and explore how the kaizen approach is applied in a specific environment such as that of a sports organisation dedicated to football in Mexico.Practical implicationsThe paper aspires to be of interest as much to researchers as to professionals in the family business context, whether they have top management responsibilities or are middle managers, and also to all those employees whose work is related to this sector, with the aim of understanding the management of small family businesses in Mexico from the kaizen perspective.Originality/valueA review of academic and practitioner literature on the subject indicated that implementation of the kaizen approach in family businesses had scarcely begun to be explored. It is also significant that in Mexico and Latin America, examples of the implementation of this kind of approach are practically non‐existent in academic literature on family businesses.

Changing culture

Presents a case study of quality management approaches in a specialist higher education college. Provides the background to this situation and discusses how and why changes have been implemented. In particular, gives details of the new college philosophy and how it was derived. Hence, comments on the value of the kaizen approach at this institution.

Encouraging the kaizen approach to quality in a university

Aston University has adopted the concept of kaizen -continuous incremental improvement in quality- into its long-term planning process. It is now at an experimental stage of a university-wide implementation of a total quality management programme. This is based on the premise that the principles and practices of quality management, as practised and taught by Juran, Deming and others, are as applicable to higher education as they are to any manufacturing or service industry. The methods and organizational structures being adopted are described.