In an earlier post I called kaizen a numbers game. I've often been asked to explain that. Some people have the notion that we only want the really good ideas or improvements. The little ones are just not that important. This view is particularly prominent in the project setting. Projects are discrete. Once they end the team often disperses. In the construction setting, people go back to their companies only to be reassigned to another project and a new group of strangers. It's easy to see how someone can have the view that we don't have the time for anything but really big improvements.

Make a small change today

So, why do we seem to think that we don't have the time? In my experience it comes down to being overloaded and overwhelmed. Having too much to do and being in a bad mood about it is often the situation on projects. While there might be many sources for that situation, it doesn't need to prevail for the whole project. It may only take a commitment to make today better than yesterday.

In the spirit of doing better today, the smallest ideas are likely to be the easiest to adopt and copy. These improvements are sometimes called Quick 'n Easy Kaizen. Makng one small change is both rewarding to the person making the change and if communicated to others can lead to a widespread adoption of the improvement and the possibility that someone will improve on what has already been improved. There's no telling what might occur if this were the everyday habit of all team members.

There's no such thing as a small idea

One small improvement often makes the way for larger improvements by eliminating the complexity of the situation. A series of small improvements can help someone see an opportunity for a bigger change. Big ideas are often obscured by the view that "it's just not possible to do something in today's situation." Make a small change today.

The title for this post came from a section heading in the book Better Makes Us Best, by Dr. John Psarouthakis.

C an we cost-justify continuous improvement? Can you believe that people ask that question when deciding whether to adopt Quick and Easy Kaizen for their organization? Like not continuously improving is an option! Ralph Keller, President of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) set out to put the question to rest in his article for Industry Week, What's Continuous Improvement Worth?

QnEK is the antidote to the 8th waste.

Ralph writes about the false savings people identify to justify continuous improvement. For instance, reductions in inventory are misrepresented as dollar-for-dollar savings. Instead, Ralph quotes one of his former bosses, "Revenue growth will cover lots of sins," to indicate the payoff that is available from our continuous improvement efforts. He argues that driving out waste a little bit at a time and continuously will add up to a significantly enhanced competitive position. He cites a 2003 HBR article where mid-sized companies show 15% – 20% year-over-year revenue growth from their continuous improvement efforts.

Ralph failed to mention the big opportunity from kaizen initiatives. If you know anything about lean, then you know Ohno's 7 Wastes. But do you know the 8th waste? Without getting into an argument about the "real" 8th waste, the prevailing view is that under utilizing the creativity of the workforce is a waste.

QnEK — daily kaizen — is the antidote to the 8th waste. How? Encourage everyone to change a little every day. That's the kaizen way! For help with daily kaizen try the Kaizen Pocket Handbook.

Read one to three more pages each day.

My day is busy. Waaay too busy. Yet I make time to read. I didn't always read. In fact, before college I didn't read anything. Once I got out of college I remember saying, "Thank God I don't have to read anymore." It was 12 – 15 years later that I took up reading again. It was in spurts. We had started our family — three boys — they were and continue to be a handful. Sometimes I would read a novel. Other times I'd just read a few news magazines. Eventually, I got in the habit of reading at least one book each month. I'm glad I did. I now read much more than that.

Looking back, I could've done a better job at adopting the "reading habit." Susan and Larry Terkel, writing in Small Change, advise you start by reading "one to three (more pages) than you are currently reading (each week)." That doesn't sound like a big deal. Grab a book…how about the Business Week book of the year, The Box, by Mark Levinson. It's the story of how the shipping container has changed world-wide trade. (Ok, it might not be for you. So pick another book.) The point is to read…to engage in the world…to challenge ourselves to think differently about who we are and what we are doing. And it can happen with just one to three more pages a day. That is the spirit of kaizen.

1. See Fast Company How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change the World? One. And You're Looking at It [back]
2. Will Wal-Mart Change the World Selling CFLs? Let’s Wonder… [back]