Post Kaizen Event Week Activities

Week 4
In our last module we discussed what to expect during the kaizen event week now, in this
lesson, were going to talk about what the post kaizen event weeks look like.

OK, so lets get started by discussing the activities that should happen the week after the
kaizen event officially ends. The first thing to ensure is that the results of the event are posted
in the work area. Often times this is the same information thats used for the kaizen event
report out.
Additionally, the kaizen newspaper that lists out the actions that still need to be completed
should also be posted in the work area. Next, another important aspect to the week 4
activity is for management to actively review these action items while also holding people
accountable.
You can be sure that employees still a bit skeptical about the whole kaizen idea will be
watching to see if management is indeed serious about kaizen or if it is just a flavor of the
month initiative.

7. Post Kaizen Event Week Activities

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Finally, the last activity for week 4 of the kaizen event timeline is for teams to be in place in
order to monitor the new process as things get started. This team should consist of people
who were part of the kaizen event as well as some who werent. The objective of this team is
to ensure there are no issues and, if there are, to address them immediately.

Week 5
Week 5, or the second week post kaizen event, is focused on more follow-up activity.
Specifically, a list of follow-up actions that need to happen 30 days after the kaizen event
should be posted. Additionally, the kaizen newspaper should continue to be updated as
actions are complete and new items that may need to be completed are added. The key to
the kaizen newspaper is that its a dynamic document thats always changing and evolving.

Week 6
Finally, week 6 of the kaizen event timeline has us focused on cross training our associates
when applicable. Tools such as the skill matrix, which we learned about in the Gemba
Academy 5S Workplace Productivity course, are excellent tools for this phase of the kaizen
event process.
Next, any financial benefits that were calculated as a result of the kaizen event will be audited
with the results posted in the
area for all associates to see.
Lastly, the lean concept
known as Yokoten, or
horizontal sharing, will be
practiced during this final
week of the kaizen event
process as at least one other
area copies some of the
good ideas discovered during
the kaizen event.
In summary, the key to these kaizen event follow-up weeks is make sure the improvement
cycle doesnt stop since, as weve learned in other Gemba Academy courses, the PDCA cycle
never stops. In other words, the end of the kaizen event only signals the start of additional
improvements.

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