This means not only adhering to current technological, managerial and operating standards, but also improving current processes in order to elevate current standards to higher levels, says Imai. With proper standardization, he says, regular checking and improvement becomes an inseparable part of everyone s job. The NASA Langley Research Center has expanded the definition and use of Kaizen to include personal and home life. Kaizen means continuous improvement in personal life, home life and working life as a whole. As related to the workplace, Kaizen means continuing improvement involving managers and workers, customers and suppliers alike.
Quality is anything that can be improved.
Thus, through Kaizen processes such as Total Quality Management, Policy Deployment and Strategic Planning, products are made more competitive. Imai had noted that in the United States engineers and technicians were assigned the task of process and product improvement, while in Japan all employees were able and expected to make suggestions and work on the improvement solutions. The more people involved with improvement the better the organization is able to maintain and sustain growth. This allows the organization to have the corporate culture needed to become a high-performing lean enterprise. The reason Kaizen is so powerful is that it involves all levels of employees.