Strat to Action - The Kaizen

I dedicate this introductory note to my friend Charlie Sharman, who I consider to be a world reference in Lean. His knowledge in this area began in the 1970s, in Japan, where he had the opportunity to learn how to use KAIZEN™ as a way to eliminate waste. He led operations at benchmark companies such as Johnson Controls and Danaher, where he took the position of Vice President of Operations in Europe. In "Strat to Action," the authors guide the reader through a three­-year Lean transformation journey conducted by Hoshin Planning (also called Policy Deployment or Strategy Deployment). This is probably "the" core process used by Danaher in conducting its transformation processes and achieving exceptional results. And Danaher is, perhaps, the best example of how to achieve real re­sults through the Lean approach. The success of Danaher is based on the DBS - Danaher Business System, which has, in its essence, KAIZEN™. This system requires that all levels of management acti­vely participate in the implementation of continuous improvement, led by the CEO. Chapter after chapter, authors take the reader through a journey of transformation using the tools of Breakthrough KAIZEN™ and the Daily KAIZEN™. The reader will get the chance to see how the strategy turns into action, through Hoshin"s application, to focus on truly meaningful Breakthroughs, aligning the management team and delivering su­perior performance. It is also emphasised the importance of kee­ping the gains, as we can often fall into the temptation to return to old habits; hence the need to use Daily KAIZEN™ to ensure that new standards are incorporated into the day-to-day business. The Chapter on the Culture of Countermeasures describes the real underlying power of KAIZEN™, when disseminated throughout the company to continuously boost improvement. Finally, the reader will be introduced to "Nagamichi KAIZEN™", or KAIZEN™ long path... A 10 to 15 years’ journey to build a truly powerful and lasting Lean culture. As I mentioned earlier, "KAIZEN™" is intensive leadership, and "Strat to Action" is the complete guide for leaders who are determined to win. George Koenigsaecker