Definition
Kaizen is a philosophy of continuous improvement based on systematically introducing small improvements with the involvement of everyone participating in the process.
Human Explanation
Kaizen assumes that even small improvements, when made regularly, lead over time to meaningful improvements in quality, performance and work organisation.
Why it Matters
Involving employees in daily improvement helps identify problems sooner, reduce waste and build a culture of ongoing development.
Conceptual Boundary
Kaizen does not mean making random changes. Every improvement should create value and be assessed for its effect on the whole process.
Practical Perspective
The greatest strength of Kaizen is not a single large project, but hundreds of small improvements introduced regularly by the people doing the daily work.