Empowering Staff through Kaizen Blitz Events

A Kaizen Blitz is an event which brings together a group of employees in a structured way to resolve issues which are critical to the delivery of service. A Kaizen Blitz event is a very successful way of realising significant performance improvements in a short space of time.

A Kaizen Blitz typically focuses on process efficiency through the elimination of waste in a system, weeding out any activities that do not add value to the final result. This waste elimination is one of the key Kaizen Principles.

In a Kaizen Blitz event the Kaizen team - made up of usually about 10 staff members - generally work to improve an existing process or system. However, there are times when it may be appropriate to use a Kaizen Blitz to introduce a new process. This ensures that things are as they should be from the outset whilst engaging employees in the new design.

 Additionally Kaizen Blitz events can be used to accelerate a piece of work within a wider change agenda e.g. new procurement practices, records management and integration between departments.

The Kaizen Blitz provides a structured approach to do the things you have to do better. A Blitz event is supported by an experienced Kaizen facilitator and involves training for the Kaizen team and then the opportunity to use the Kaizen principles to redesign the work.

Throughout the Kaizen Blitz, fun and creativity is used to keep energy levels high and help teams break through “can’t be done” barriers. The Kaizen facilitator is on hand to keep the event on track and support those involved.

Alongside the performance and efficiency benefits derived from a Kaizen Blitz, the opportunity for cultural change should not be underestimated.

Unlike other continuous improvement methods, the Kaizen Blitz is supported by visible management commitment which, in turn, lifts staff morale and positively impacts results.