5 free Kaizen training courses for business leaders

Kaizen is a business improvement methodology that originated in the Japanese manufacturing sector. Translating as “change for the good,” Kaizen emphasizes making small, incremental changes that combine to generate larger results over time. It has evolved to become a common element of modern process and operational excellence.

Many businesses have applied Kaizen to improve efficiency, streamline processes and reduce waste. Toyota, Canon, Sony and Samsung are just some of the notable organizations that have adopted the methodology over the years.

The adaptable, incremental and people-centric approach of Kaizen proves invaluable for any organization, signifying its relevance for organizations and professionals in 2024.

Here are five training courses for growing Kaizen skills, knowledge and understanding.

1. Kaizen approach – lean methodology for continuous improvement – Alison/SM Waqas Imam

This course begins by examining Kaizen and laying out its definition, history and driving principles. It then covers the “plan-do-check-act” (PDCA) approach to drive Kaizen improvements as well as the ‘three Ms’ of ‘muri’ (overburden), ‘mura’ (unevenness) and ‘muda’ (waste). The course moves on to other major Kaizen concepts, such as its events, cycle and systems, which include Gemba Kaizen, before establishing the importance of monitoring Kaizen improvement programs.

2. Kaizen activities – skill level 1: Knowledge – Lean Enterprise Academy

Outlining basic knowledge about Kaizen activities in terms of purpose, process and people, this interactive course consists of four lessons. Participants learn:

• Where Kaizen fits into the lean transformation framework, why it is important and the benefits of it supporting people and organizational development.
• The four key elements when applying Kaizen and the different approaches for different levels in the organization.
• The roles and responsibilities around developing people to have a Kaizen mindset.

3. Kaizen events – Busies Performance Improvement (BPI)

These downloadable training materials explore the concept of Kaizen events, which bring together all the people involved in making a process work correctly. Events are conducted from four hours to five days in length, requiring significant planning and a defined agenda for each phase of the event. The materials outline the three key benefits of Kaizen events and provide a framework for planning and conducting a Kaizen event within an organization.

Blake Hill, AccentCare discusses building high performance teams

4. Culture of Kaizen – LinkedIn Learning/Gemba Academy

Available via a free trial, this course explores characteristics of a successful Kaizen leader and motivation/persuasion techniques to improve communication skills. It also covers the human side of Lean and the difference between so-called adaptive and non-adaptive cultures. The course was created by Gemba Academy, a leading provider of Lean and Six Sigma training.

5. Kaizen training materials – SC Training

Another set of downloadable materials, this content from SC Training explores various aspects of Kaizen, from the basics to more technical components. This includes an overview of organizational waste and several methods for supporting continuous improvement, as well as the biggest benefits and challenges of implementing Kaizen.

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