Kaizen’s Steps, Step Three, Change

The last step to implement Kaizen is changes. See the previous steps here and here. This step is required when the previous two cannot be done, or not effective anymore to be done. There are several components that can be changed in kaizen. A good example as described by picture below.

What makes this umbrella different from others? As we can see here, it doesn’t require any “help” to stand up. So, it doesn’t require any special place to keep it. It’s a small change, but that kaizen is. Small change is enough. By the way, I my self never think about this kind of change to umbrella until I saw it.

Let’s continue the topic. Change, as the third step of kaizen. How do we make a change? There are several “guidance” to think about making changes of existing equipment, tools or any thing around us.

Think differently. Try to think not from the usual way of thinking. We may change it by reducing its size, color, design, the way we use it, etc.

Alter feature with other, so that the new design will be much more useful.

Exchange feature of a tool from another tool. Of course we cannot change cars tire into a bike, but we can change tube of bike’s tire with tube of motorcycle’s tire.

Diversify current tools to make new ones.

Kaizen’s Steps, Step Two, Reduce

After discussing first step, now we move on the next. The second step is reduce. Basically, the focus of this step, as its name, is to reduce. What can be reduced. Many. Here are some of them.

* Part/component of the tool or anything (object of kaizen)
* Feature, that is not effective if it is still attached to the object
* Size, since it will not reduce the function
* Volume, again, since the decreasing in volume won’t reduce the function
* Weight, of course, this method is applied by many companies
* Etc, add your own list here

This second step can be done by:

# simplification of current methods,
# centralization,
# integration or many separated things into simultaneous one,
# combination of different thing into single product (see multipurpose printer, it prints, scan, fax, copy at once )
# standardization, to reduce the variability of products or methods
# etc, again, add your own list here..

In later posts, I’ll add examples of this step that are applied in real world, not just in theory, as the main purpose of this blog.

Kaizen's steps, 1st step (continuation)

Let's continue discussion about Kaizen's steps. At the previous post, I wrote a bit about the first step. Elimination. We all know that we want to be as efficient as possible, without reducing the level of effective. Tools we use everyday, sometimes consist of unneeded features. Can you imagine examples. Well, you might forget it or even never think about it. Nowadays, computer does not have floppy drive attached on it, USB port or sometimes Bluetooth. Why? well you know the answer.

Elimination in Kaizen is not only about eleminitaion of waste, but also elimination of unneeded features. When you try to give a suggestion, this method can be applied. Why don't we eliminate attached webcam on Sony notebook? Is it really worth it? if you have webcam attached on the screen, or anywhere, of your laptop, I believe that you might disappointed with its quality. The development of webcam is quite fast. Once you buy the feature, you might find that it is already out of date several months later. It'll be much better if we have separate webcam, so we can easily upgrade it. This feature is completely useless in Sony's computers, and others too. Unless, Sony attaches a very-advance-technology webcam.

We might have unneeded feature or anything in our office. Start thinking to eliminate them. A lot of money will be saved, you might wonder.

Kaizen has red tag method in order to eliminate unwanted feature or anything. We'll discuss this later.

Blogging and Kaizen

Hmm.. what is relationship between them? Well it is quite difficult to see the clear relationship between them. But, have you ever been in position where you are difficult to express your opinion? Or none listen your comment on something that you might important or you were interested in? Or you have to closely-linked to the employer from whom you get your salary? Your boss that you have to see his/her face everyday even you don't like to see?

Remember first step of kaizen. Well, you might forgot it already or even never read or know it. Please back to this. Let's go back to 1st kaizen's step. It is elimination. Blogging is a kaizen since it eliminate the barrier between people aka employee and employer. Google Adsense and PayPerPost are good examples.

Using blog, people do not need to face their boss directly, even do not know whow each other, other than communicate using blog and email. This is whay I love PayPerPost. No need to see who my boss is, no need to be tied on tight schedules. Moreover, I can pick what kind of job I'd like to do. What a wonderful choice. ads on blogs