Definition
A cross-functional team fully dedicated for 3–5 days to conduct on-site analysis of a clearly defined topic, make on-site changes, and achieve results within the same week; the Kaizen-style target is an improvement of 20%–50% relative to the local Standard; the classification of "installation-style and Kaizen-style" comes from reading notes on the publicly published book "Enabling Management" and is not the course definition; see [[installation-kaizen]].
In detail
A Kaizen week is a 3-5 day, full-time, cross-functional event focused on a specific topic, with on-site analysis, on-site implementation, and visible results within the week. It addresses issues that linger unresolved or where improvement efforts are superficial, by concentrating resources and authority for rapid breakthroughs. Unlike daily improvement, a Kaizen week has clear objectives and a time box. Typical outputs include quantifiable improvement results, standardized documentation, and follow-up plans.
Example in practice
When a bottleneck process causes delivery delays, management initiates an improvement week, forming a cross-functional team with a goal of increasing capacity by 20%. Within a week, the team observes the floor, analyzes data, implements quick changeover and layout adjustments, achieves the goal, and updates standard work. Follow-up ensures sustainability.