DailyKaizen

RPIW (rapid process improvement workshop) is the name that our organization uses for our standard, five day, cross-functional improvement event that is based on the Toyota model for supplier organizations.  Eight months ago when we began working in the Division that is home to our Model Line only one RPIW event had ever been facilitated.  Eight months later we now have event taking place a couple of times per month and the power of Kaizen is really beginning to show itself as managers and staff are able to have multiple lean experiences.  

With most of the groups that I have worked with in the past we would lead a couple of point improvements, show a return and then move on to the next group.  As a result, teams were never able to get the deep understanding that of lean that only comes through application, trial and error. 

I remember talking with a Lean leader once during a benchmarking interview he commented that it take years of hands on experience to really master lean, but that teams will start to get it after their third kaizen event.   In the Model Line many of our managers and staff members have had several opportunities to learn and apply lean principles and tools and it is exciting to see them developing and learn how to work differently.   I have had several managers comment to me over the last couple of weeks that they would never be able to “go back to their old ways.”    On a large scale we are developing leaders through doing (kaizen) and as they continue to become more experienced they will only get better and be able to teach others.  

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