Kaizen is one of the key elements of a Lean workplace. Most people, I find, only give passing thought to this idea of Continuous Improvement as it is translated into english.
Many that I ask will claim that in work and at home they often make efforts to improve. When I ask for examples of actual implemented change in the last two weeks, it’s generally quiet. At most, I might get an example of a major project underway, or one that that was already completed. Few people can name more than a handful of improvements made over the past year big or small.
Kaizen however is not about big innovative changes. It’s not about installing new systems, computers or equipment. It’s not about contracting with another vendor to handle the work you don’t like. It’s not about fundamental changes in your approach toward business.
Kaizen is about making small, incremental improvements to what you already have by means of elimination of wastes first and adding value second. Kaizen is about making dozens or hundreds of small changes over time.
Life is filled with nuisances. In work and in life, we all find reasons to complain that things take too long, move too slow, and cost too much in time, effort and energy. Kaizen is about eliminating these nuisances, all of them. And the more you look, the more you learn to see.
In the shop, it continues to amaze me how many nuisances there are. So many little inconveniences that slow you down, make your work harder than necessary, and impact the overall quality of your work.
As an example, band-saw blades have been a nuisance to me for years. When new and neatly rolled it seems easy to find a place to store a few. While I have occasionally gotten lucky trying to re-fold them once used, it’s a puzzle I’ve tired of battling. As a result I’ve hung used blades wherever I could find a spare spot. These large bands of sharpened steel inevitably get knocked off the wall.
In less time than I have spent wrangling band-saw blades in the past, I glued up this practical while not aesthetically pleasing blade storage rack. Hung from a French cleat, I can move it as necessary around the shop. The upper portion is stationary. The vertical bar is affixed to the bottom and slides up and down in a groove of the top. All used blades can be stored in one of two sections, unfolded, while new blades hang conveniently in the center.
This is just one example of a good kaizen project, improving the current environment. It was quickly implemented for a nominal cost in time and money. I will forever on know exactly where all my blades are and none will be accidentally knocked off the wall. Nuisance eliminated!
How many more opportunities are there?
