What Is Kaizen?

Kaizen is a Japanese term for "continuous improvement" and a building block of the lean methodology of eliminating waste, improving productivity, and improving activities and processes. Kaizen principles improve the organization with an effective and efficient way to organize the work environment. In logistics, the 5 S's of the Kaizen principles - sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain - are often utilized within warehouses to improve and maintain an organized environment. As an example of the principles, if there is a trash can beside each dock door, the company would paint or tape the outline on the floor. The same would be done for brooms, dustpans, shovels, etc.

See also: Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)