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by Alan Alper, MA Editorial Staff
Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 12:10:00 AM Sign Up to receive Daily News Alerts in your E-mail Inbox    | Abstract: | By leveraging Kaikaku, or radical improvement of any activity by removing waste, companies can get the most from their lean initiatives. |
To really understand lean manufacturing, you need to have Eastern mysticism in your heart -- and a Japanese dictionary by your side. The reason: The underlying concepts were developed, honed and mastered over the last half century by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., whose much-emulated, never-duplicated production system has lately helped it easily outdistance U.S. car makers in the all-important measures of revenue growth and profitability. Lean followers are well aware of the concepts of Kanbans (demand signal visibility) and Kaizen (continuous business process improvement). What's next? Try Kaikaku, or radical improvement of any activity by removing waste, a term evangelized by lean manufacturing consultant and author Norman Bodek in his latest book, "Kaikaku The Power and Magic of Lean" (PCS Press, 2004). [Click to continue] |
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