Kaizen is a Japanese word that translates as “change for the better”. The most common translation however is “continuous improvement”. But is the subject adequately covered by this translation? In the video below (2010) Masaaki Imai (1930) addresses the continuous improvement community with a new insight: he came up with a better interpretation of Kaizen. Imai is the man who popularized Kaizen by publishing a book in 1986 and establishing the Kaizen Institute.
The movie is not only interesting because of an improved definition of Kaizen but also because a number of other misconceptions that he exposes about Lean; continuous improvement and the role of management. Enjoy!