kaizen

American  

[kahy-zen] / kaɪˈzɛn /

noun

1. a business philosophy or system that is based on making positive changes on a regular basis, as to improve productivity.

2. an approach to one’s personal or social life that focuses on continuous improvement.

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kaizen British  

/ kaɪˈzɛn /

noun

1. a philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices that underlies total quality management and just-in-time business techniques

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Usage

What is kaizen? Kaizen is a business philosophy based on making small, positive changes over time, such as for improving productivity. A Japanese concept, kaizen refers to taking small steps toward a goal over a longer period of time instead of taking big steps that may be difficult. Kaizen is most often practiced in businesses and the workplace, where the concept is used to increase profits by consistently and slowly improving productivity, a product, or something similar. Kaizen is also an approach to improving your own life by making one small change a day or spending a small amount of time, such as one minute a day, toward improvement. You might hear of people using kaizen to learn something, improve in a sport or hobby, or create healthier food habits. Many people like kaizen because it’s much easier to commit a small amount of time each day to slowly achieve a goal than it is to commit to a big change all at once. Example: Ever since I discovered the concept of kaizen, my work productivity has risen tenfold.

Etymology

Origin of kaizen

From Japanese: literally, “continuous improvement”

Example Sentences

He hired the author to lecture Fidelity executives, made a video about kaizen for new employees and wrote the foreword to another kaizen book, which included Fidelity as a case study.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2022

The new generation of medical care will be enabled by the ceaseless demands of kaizen.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 15, 2019

A kaizen suggestion box greets visitors to City Hall, and even the kindergartens are designed according to the philosophy’s teachings.

From Washington Post • Feb. 15, 2019

Similar to Jack Welch and his famous Six Sigma model, Culp deployed “continuous improvement” workplace techniques — borrowed freely from the Japanese kaizen method — that buoyed profit margins.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2018

Along with the day’s schedule featuring time allotted for eating, training and recovery were inspirational sayings and words such as kaizen, the Japanese art of making continuous improvement through small, ongoing changes.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2018