Workshop Three - Lean Project Facilitation: Leading High Impact Kaizen Events

Lean projects are often called "Kaizen events." These short-term efforts focus on a single process, or even a particular problem within the process value stream. By keeping the scope of the project narrow and selecting problems that can be solved with the Lean toolset, Kaizen events typically return dramatic improvements within weeks.

In addition, Kaizen events encourage participation and teamwork from different organizational levels, which gives everyone involved a sense of accomplishment, and increases support for improvement and transformation efforts.

Workshop Description

Workshop Three of the Lean Management for Breakthrough Results training series provides an understanding of how Lean Kaizen events work, as well as best practices for leading successful events. From selecting the problem to address, to preparing for and running the Kaizen event, and following up, students learn how effective these Lean projects can be when they are properly scoped and facilitated.

Key Topics:

• Understanding the purpose and structure of a Lean Kaizen event.
• Encouraging participation and leading successful Kaizen events.
• Identifying the problem to solve and scoping the Kaizen event.
• Collecting data on the problem for effective decision making.
• Preparing for the Kaizen event, including roles and responsibilities and setting expectations.
• Preparing the process environment for breakthrough performance using the 5S technique (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain).
• Running the Kaizen event to address the problem and provide solutions.
• Incorporating solutions and ensuring sustainable improvements.
• Establishing metrics to track and maintain optimal process performance.