Kaizen 改善

I have been exploring the meaning of kaizen as it has become apparent that it has strong links to the ideology and practice of my magazine. After reviewing some suggested links, I found that Kaizen is the Japanese term for improvement, and translates as ‘good change’ it plays an important role within industrial development referring to a process of continuous improvement. Throughout my research it seems Toyota use kaizen as a method of applying small advancements to their manufacturing processes, exercising the understanding that each step builds on the others producing a dramatic result. The ideas of Kaizen have been applied to health care, psychotherapy and life coaching, founding strength as a life style for healthy, approachable change. I am interested in Kaizen, as its practice and nature is similar to the approach of my magazine, using steps, processes and exercises to build on good change and healthy improvement.  I feel the nature of Kaizen resonates extremely well with my ideas, and would be a fitting and powerful title for my magazine. I will continue to build on the ideology of kaizen while designing and developing the content and exercises.

“Kaizen means improvement. Moreover, it means continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life and working life. When applied to the workplace Kaizen means continuing improvement involving everyone – managers and worksers alike ” Masaaki Imai, Founder of Kaizen Institute