Kaizen Blitz

Lean Green Belt Tool Kaizen Blitz

What is Kaizen Blitz

Kaizen Blitz (a.k.a. Kaizen task-force or Kaizen Event) is a specific kaizen that is very short in duration and that can only be used in specific situations.

Properties:

  • Duration is less than a week (normally 2-5 days)
  • Focus on removing all waste types in one specific area
  • Low-cost and easy-to-implement in nature
  • Is the most well-known and effective way of achieving immediate improvements

Why Kaizen Blitz

General advantages

  • Delivers quick, easy and low-cost process improvements
  • Improves kaizen mindset support

Reduces waste types

  • ☑︎ Conveyance
  • ☑︎ Inventory
  • ☑︎ Motion
  • ☑︎ Waiting
  • ☑︎ Overproduction
  • ☑︎ Overprocessing
  • ☑︎ Correction

When to use Kaizen Blitz

Essential conditions

Kaizen

This is a specific type of Kaizen

DMAIC

Improvement roadmap

Non-essential conditions

None

N/A

How to implement and use Kaizen Blitz

Implementation

General comments (same as regular Kaizen):

  • Empower employees to do Kaizens
  • Be receptive to new ideas and suggestions
  • Create commitment to teamwork

Use

Suitable situations:

  • Responsibility for the implementation of improvement lies mostly within the team
  • Small risk of failure
  • Easy to implement
  • Clearly defined one specific focus area
  • Improvement opportunities visible (e.g. waste)
  • Time-restricted, effects quickly expected (within one week)
  • Low-cost solution expected

Preparation:

  • Assemble a multidisciplinary team with:
    • Members from the work area
    • Technical support
    • Supervisors with decision-making responsibilities
    • Some outsiders as “fresh eyes”

Execution guidelines:

  • Use process roadmap DMAIC
  • Start with training, followed by some team-building activities
  • Then proceed to Gemba for detailed observation and explanation of the situation
  • You may use sub-teams if required
  • Give clear tasks including deadlines to team members
  • Finally, decide on the change to be implemented by consensus

Where to find it

IASSC Body of Knowledge:

Lean: 33

Yellow ➔ N/A
Green ➔ Analyze
Black ➔ Create

Lean Six Sigma: –

Yellow ➔ N/A
Green ➔ N/A
Black ➔ N/A

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About the Author

Floris Lap is an IASSC-certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and founder of Procestimal. He empowers organizations to maximize value and reduce waste through practical Lean Six Sigma solutions—contributing to a more sustainable world where businesses thrive with minimal resources. Contact us

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