Definition
Continuously improve the way work is done by discovering problems, testing countermeasures, verifying results, and updating standards; this includes both daily small Kaizen and concentrated improvement events.
In detail
Kaizen is a practice of continuously improving the way work is done, emphasizing employee participation, Gemba observation, experimentation, and learning. It can happen in daily work or be driven intensively by cross-functional teams. A Kaizen Event is one form of organization, often run over five days, but five days is not a defining condition of all Kaizen. Effective Kaizen must verify changes in quality, delivery, cost, or customer value, and update standards and track sustainment; it cannot merely count activities.
Example in practice
The team found that every shift handover involved repeatedly searching for tools, so it adjusted positioning, trialed a new handover checklist, and observed for a week. After search time decreased and safety checks had no omissions, the team updated the standard. This is also Kaizen; there is no need to wait for the next five-day Kaizen Event. Cross-departmental difficult problems can be addressed through focused events.