When is the best time for kaizen?

By Ron Pereira Updated on June 25th, 2007

When is the best time for kaizen? Anytime? Perhaps. However, in Taiichi Ohno’s Workplace Management we read that the best times to do kaizen are when things are going great.

There is an expression “poverty dulls your wits” which means that when you are impoverished you will not be able to have good ideas and help yourself.

When I first read this I struggled with it since you often hear that the best time for kaizen is during a crisis. But then the following words set me straight.

These days the market conditions are so good for people in some industries that they are laughing all the way to the bank, but I think they may need to stop laughing and prepare for when times are not so good again and step up their kaizen efforts.

Want to read more? If so, buy Taiichi Ohno’s Workplace Management today.

If you enjoyed this post please subscribe to this blog via RSS feed. What’s RSS?

Ron Pereira

Ron has more than 20 years of experience in various manufacturing, supply chain, and senior leadership roles. Ron has held the titles of process engineer, engineering manager, master black belt, and director of manufacturing & continuous improvement. In 2002 Ron was the first American to win the Nokia Global Six Sigma and Overall Quality award in Helsinki, Finland. Ron holds a bachelor's degree in automated manufacturing and an MBA in technology management.

Jennifer
June 25, 2007 - 7:47 pm
Reply

This reminds me of working out. When I go to the gym hungry or tired my workout stinks. But when I go feeling strong and energetic things go great.