nach oben

Open Access 2018 | Open Access | Buch

Applying the Kaizen in Africa

A New Avenue for Industrial Development

herausgegeben von: Prof. Keijiro Otsuka, Dr. Kimiaki Jin, Prof. Tetsushi Sonobe

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Über dieses Buch

At present, how to develop industries is a burning issue in Africa, where population growth remains high and economic development has thus far failed to provide sufficient jobs for many, especially young people and women. The creation of productive jobs through industrial development ought to be a central issue in steering economic activity across the continent.

The authors of this book, consisting of two development economists and five practitioners, argue that the adoption of Kaizen management practices, which originated in Japan and have become widely used by manufacturers in advanced and emerging economies, is decisively the most effective first step for industrial development in Africa.

This open access book discusses what Kaizen management is, why it is applicable to Africa, and why it can provide Africa with a springboard for sustainable economic growth and employment generation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

PDF

Open Access

1. How Kaizen Brightens Africa’s Future

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of why successful industrial development in Africa requires the dissemination of Kaizen. For this purpose, it begins with a simple definition of the approach. While detailed explanations are provided in subsequent chapters, this chapter briefly explains what characterizes Kaizen, how it was born in Japan and why it was accepted there, and how it has absorbed and assimilated those new ideas and practices that emerged later in Japan and other parts of the world to grow into the most widely and intensively used approach to management. The chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities for Africa as a late adopter of the approach, before concluding with a brief introduction of the other chapters.

Tetsushi Sonobe

PDF Zum Volltext

Open Access

2. Role of Kaizen in Japan’s Overseas Development Cooperation

Abstract

Kaizen is one of the core systems of knowledge utilized in Technical Cooperation projects of the Japanese government. For the effective transfer of Kaizen, recipient country governments and their top leaders can play significant roles through a set of institutional arrangements. For sustainable improvement of quality and productivity of work, people’s core capacities need to receive due attention since they provide the bases for further technical capacity development. The Kaizen mind-set can create change and make proactive contributions to improvement. Since knowledge transfer is influenced by both technical and human aspects, the process of customizing Kaizen tools and methodologies in the local context while maintaining the core value of Kaizen is indispensable for long-lasting quality and productivity improvement activities.

Kimiaki Jin

PDF Zum Volltext

Open Access

3. Kaizen in Practice

Abstract

Kaizen is a continuous activity to fill the gap between the current and ideal states. Japanese manufactures imported many management technologies from the US to reduce Muda, which were transformed to Kaizen technologies such as QC circle activities. Toyota Production System (TPS), which is directly opposite to mass production and mass consumption systems, is quite different. It has had a significant impact on Kaizen. In general, improvements using management technologies are considered Kaizen. However, to improve quality and equipment efficiency, Kaizen is often combined with inherent technologies. Kaizen stresses achieving results while enhancing workers’ motivation and problem-solving abilities. To sustain Kaizen activities in developing countries, it is necessary to establish a mechanism to share the results of Kaizen among workers and the company.

Seiji Sugimoto

PDF Zum Volltext

Open Access

4. Kaizen and Standardization

Abstract

Kaizen, a method and concept developed in Japan, evolved and was modified as Six-Sigma, the Lean Production System and so on as “Western-style Kaizen” to be applicable to Western corporate culture. Western-style Kaizen has become an international standard (ISO 13053-1&2/ISO 18404). The application of Kaizen differs country to country depending on their industrial climate and corporate culture. This chapter first analyzes the similarities and differences between the Japanese-style Kaizen with Western-style Kaizen. Second, it discusses the impact of ISO on African companies and a more suitable and appropriate method of Kaizen for African SMEs. Third, it outlines a research study conducted by JICA on “Standardizing Kaizen Approaches in Africa,” a sub-project of the Africa Kaizen Initiative that JICA and NEPAD launched in April 2017.

Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Momoko Suzuki

PDF Zum Volltext

Open Access

5. Kaizen as Policy Instrument: The Case of Ethiopia

Abstract

Kaizen was introduced to Ethiopia in 2009 with JICA’s technical assistance. The success of the first pilot project (2009–2011) confirmed the transferability and effectiveness of Kaizen. Ethiopia’s government established the Ethiopia Kaizen Institute (EKI) in 2011 to disseminate Kaizen throughout the country. The budget of the institute is covered by the government while JICA extended capacity-development projects until 2020. So far 107 Kaizen consultants have been trained and deployed in different sectors. EKI has developed strategies, a roadmap, and TIISO Model to effectively transfer Kaizen philosophy from 2012 to 2015, and Kaizen is incorporated in the national development plan. From (2015) to (2020), around 473 organizations were contacted, 68,954 persons trained, 9658 KPTs (QCCs) established, and US$105 million achieved as a result of quality and productivity improvements.

Getahun Tadesse Mekonen

PDF Zum Volltext

Open Access

6. Kaizen as a Key Ingredient of Industrial Development Policy

Abstract

In order to reduce or eradicate poverty, it is imperative to create ample employment opportunities by developing labor-intensive manufacturing industries. This chapter proposes new policies to promote industrial development in SSA, recognizing that there are many spontaneously developed and promising industrial clusters in SSA. We also recognize that Kaizen training alone is not sufficient for full-fledged industrial development. Thus, we recommend following the sequence of support measures beginning with Kaizen training of entrepreneurs followed by investment in industrial parks and financial support, or TIF in short, because Kaizen training enhances the returns to subsequent investments. TIF strategy should be designed to attract FDI and promote absorptive capacity of local entrepreneurs to learn from FDI by means of continuous training of local entrepreneurs.

Keijiro Otsuka

PDF Zum Volltext

Backmatter

PDF

Titel: Applying the Kaizen in Africa
herausgegeben von: Prof. Keijiro Otsuka
Dr. Kimiaki Jin
Prof. Tetsushi Sonobe
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-91400-8
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-91399-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91400-8

Springer Professional

Über dieses Buch

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. How Kaizen Brightens Africa’s Future

2. Role of Kaizen in Japan’s Overseas Development Cooperation

3. Kaizen in Practice

4. Kaizen and Standardization

5. Kaizen as Policy Instrument: The Case of Ethiopia

6. Kaizen as a Key Ingredient of Industrial Development Policy

Backmatter

Premium Partner