Implementation of Kaizen For Continuous
Implementation of Kaizen For Continuous
3, May 2015
Keywords: Kaizen, TPM, 5S, PDCA, POKA-YOKE DHU, SOP, Just-In-Time, Root
cause analysis, Continuous Improvement
1 INTRODUCTION
All the garments industries are labor intensive, so the best utilization of labors of the
industry will assure the highest profit of company. Bangladesh is a country where labors
are available at low wages. Many garments have established their company in our country
to be benefited. So, improvement in product quality with incremental productivity
becomes necessary. Here comes the necessity of best utilization of modern techniques
like KAIZEN in garments industry. By implementing Kaizen worker safety, worker
satisfaction and pride of work were created which motivate them into work. Through
Kaizen strong small, incremental changes are routinely applied and sustain over a long
period which results in significant improvement in efficiency, quality as well as
productivity.
1.1 Kaizen
Kaizen is a Japanese hybrid work. It is a compound word involving two concepts: Kai
(change) and Zen (for the better). The term comes from Gemba Kaizen meaning
‘Continuous Improvement’ (CI). Continuous Improvement is one of the core strategies
for excellence in production, and is considered vital in today’s competitive environment.
It calls for endless effort for improvement involving everyone in the organization. Kaizen
requires no or little investment. The principle behind is that, a very large of small
improvements are more effective in an organizational environment than a few
improvement of large value. This philosophy implies that strong small,
incremental changes are routinely applied and sustain over a long period which
results in significant improvement.
229
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
TPM
5 WHY
Basic for kaizen and at the same time the simplest organizing technique
simultaneously, captivated in motto “when you find a problem, ask why five times”; it
ask so many times as you will find the deepest reason of problem.
PDCA
Pareto diagram, reasons and results diagram (so called Ishikawa diagram),
histogram, scheme, punctual diagram, check card most often with x-R diagram,
230
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
5S
1.2 OBJECTIVES
1.3 METHODOLOGY
Total summarization of Kaizen implementation is given below:
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Kaizen forms an umbrella that covers many techniques including Kanban, Total
Productive maintenance, six sigma, automation, just-in-time, suggestion system and
productivity improvement, etc. (Imai, 1986) in figure 1 .
231
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
Watson (1986) says that the origin of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle or Deming
cycle can be traced back to the eminent statistics expert Shewart in the 1920s.
Shewart introduced the concept of PDCA. The Total Quality Management (TQM)
guru Deming modified the Shewart cycle as: Plan, Do, Study and Act. The Deming cycle
is a continuous quality improvement model consisting of a logical sequence of these four
repetitive steps for Continuous Improvement (CI) and learning. The PDCA cycle is also
known as Deming Cycle, the Deming wheel of CI spiral.
Teian (1992) describes that Kaizen is more than just a means of improvement because
it represent the daily struggles occurring in the workplace and the manner in which these
struggles are overcome. Kaizen can be applied to any area in need of improvement.
Hammer et al. (1993) explain that Kaizen generates process-oriented thinking since
processes must be improved before better results are obtained.
Deniels (1995) explains that the way to achieve fundamental improvement on the
shop floor is to enable operators to establish their own measures, to align business
strategies and to use them to drive their Kaizen activities.
Williams (2001) highlights that CI techniques are the recognized way of making
significant reduction to production costs. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a well-
known technique for translating customer requirements for a product into functional
specification.
Abdolshah and Jahan (2006) describe how to use CI tools in both quantitative and
qualitative tools in different life periods of an organization have been discussed.
232
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
3. KAIZEN IMPLEMENTATION
Before implementing Kaizen the existing data and layout were analyzed. The time study
sheet for a sewing line named line 13 and SMV are listed in the following table 3.1. Here
10% allowance is considered. ISO specifies minimum 10% allowance for the entire
operator.
233
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
Kaizen activities, to provide baseline for future Kaizen activities. Creating Standard
Operation:
The objective of SOP is to prepare standard operation sheet for all operation and
machine. To standardize operation procedure time study is require observing the existing
method of processes. Then analyzing the processes slowly and eliminate the unnecessary
movement to standardized the method of processes. A standard method of process was
analyzed by the line supervisor. Then the ways or methods of processing were
documented. If the operators follow those methods properly, the non-value added time
will be reduced as well as the cycle time within taken time.
Here, order quantity by buyer= 6000 pcs & day in hand is 20 days=20*8*60 minutes.
= 1.6 minute
Total cycle time limit (TTL) = Total value added activity (VA) + Total non-value added
activity
234
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
235
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
236
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
There are different types of defects in sewing floors. Some defects are given below:
237
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
17. Pinch
18. Needle mark
19. Oil spot
20. Fabric damage
238
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
Day 1 2 3 4 5
Output 350 355 365 370 390
At Day 1:
= 54%
239
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
= 61%
Day 1 2 3 4 5
Output 350 355 365 370 390
Efficiency (%) 54 55 57 58 61
Here, this bar chart shows that the efficacy of the process increased day by day
Day 1 2 3 4 5
No. of defect point 379 358 384 340 329
No. of inspected 350 355 365 370 390
product
DHU 108 101 105 92 84
240
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
Here, this bar chart shows that the defect per hundred units reduced.
Table 9. Results for before kaizen implementation and after kaizen implementation with
comparative results
For the quality improvement in above categories, the basic kaizen techniques PDCA,
SOP, 5S scoring, root cause analysis was used by us. By applying PDCA, whole
improvement process were planned sequentially, the required corrective action were
taken. Those actions were checked, calculated and analyzed that it can be implemented
for improvement.
By applying SOP the process were standardized and cycle time were balanced by
reducing non-value added activities. Thus working environment and job safety were
improved. After implementing kaizen 5S scoring was increased by 1.16. The performance
of output is highly dependent on working environment. Improving the working
environment by making it clean and worker friendly the operators were self-motivated to
the works. So, the output was increased day by day.
For high quality product defect elimination is necessary. Root cause analysis was
performed to identify top defects and corrective actions were taken. After implementing
241
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
kaizen DHU reduced from 108 to 84. As defects were reduced waste were reduced which
helps to reduce unnecessary cost. Hence, Kaizen improves the quality and reduce cost.
By implementing Kaizen worker safety, job satisfaction and labor recognition were
imparted to workers. It motivate them into work, facilitates a sense of accomplishment,
thereby creating a pride of work, increase working skill, inspiration, confidence. If there
is extra intensive for good performance, proper training, labor motivation to work will
increase. Line efficiency was improved 7% after implementing Kaizen. Hence Kaizen
improves productivity along with the improvement of quality and reduction of waste.
5 CONCLUSIONS
The main motive of kaizen is to increase overall productivity, efficiency, quality. The
result of kaizen implementation for five days was very fruitful. After implementing
kaizen the efficiency improves from 54% to 61%, DHU reduces from 108 pieces to 84
pieces. 5S improves from 2.67 to 3.83. It can be easily realized that, if a 5 days
implementation of Kaizen can bring 7% improvement in line efficiency then, what it will
be the effect of implementing Kaizen throughout the life of an industry. But it is very
unfortunate for us that most the garments industries don’t follow and implement Kaizen.
They even don’t know that Kaizen needs no or little investment. Bangladeshi garments
industries have the lowest labor cost but they can’t make the highest profit for not
exercising lean, kaizen, 5s and other quality tools. The importance of implementing
kaizen or continuous improvement in every industries are knows no bound.
5.1 Recommendations
Motive plans providing incentives, training could be prepared to increase
operator’s performance
Operators recognition can be very effective to provide an operator job satisfaction
Entertainment of operator while working can help to release from boredom
Alter jobs of the operators (as their skill) in which they are interested.
Pictorial SOP can be made for providing easy understanding of operator at every
working line
The visualization system should be monitored properly
For team based working team leader can be introduced and rewarded for good
work.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the most merciful Allah who helps to complete the project
successfully with his grace and mercy.
First of all, the authors would like to thank their project supervisor, Dr. Tarapada
Bhowmick, Professor & Head, department of Industrial Engineering and Management,
for his continual support and encouragement throughout the project period. He
maintained an ideal balance among us to work with freedom to develop our own ideas
and also provided valuable advice when needed.
The authors are particularly grateful to VIP Industries Bangladesh Private Ltd. Mongla
EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat 9351, Bangladesh for their cordial assistance in this project study.
Especially thanks to Mr. Monjur Ahamad, head of production department, Mr. Asim
Poddar, Mr. Selim Reja for provided us facilities and assistance to make possible to
complete the project work.
The authors would like to thanks all other teachers of the Department of Industrial
Engineering and Management, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology for
their direct and indirect assistance at several times.
242
www.aasrc.org/aasrj American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal Vol 7, No. 3, May 2015
References
Abdolshah M and Jahan A (2006), “How to Use Continuous Improvement Tools in
different Life Periods of Organization”, IEEE International Conference on
Management of Innovation and Technology, Vol. 2, pp. 772-777, Singapore.
M. Imai, Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success, Random House Published
New York, 1986.
Md. Ariful Ferdous is graduated from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology
(KUET). He received his B.Sc. degree in Industrial & Production Engineering from
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management(IEM) from Khulna University of
Engineering & Technology (KUET) in 2015.His current research interests are inspection
system software development,quality control, artificial neural network. He is currently a
member of IEM association.
243