Indy ASQ chapter meeting 1/8/2013 6P-8P

Join us for this talk!

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4290767802

Kaizen Klips #3 "Keep Trying"

Don't quit, keep improving, you will get there.



What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer

Building a Kaizen Nation

As I have continued my personal use of kaizen, I am convinced it can be used for anything (I wonder if any of the NCAA Final Four basketball teams considered it).  In addition, kaizen can be scaled to small projects and to individuals all the way up to large multi-national companies and projects. Today, I find that Kaizen is being implemented in nation states by making it a national priority.  Why?  Japan realized the value of kaizen and has been exporting it to other nations whom have seen the benefits as well.  I wonder when the United States Government will get on board?

Zambia - In their 3rd year of adopting kaizen as a nation.

http://www.zm.emb-japan.go.jp/en/topic/02.18.KAI.html

Remarks by the Japanese Ambassador: http://www.zm.emb-japan.go.jp/en/press/02.18.KAI.doc

Singapore - working on improving quality since the 1980s. The 2011 Legatum prosperity index rated Singapore #1 economy with a per capita GDP of $59K, 95% literacy, and life expectancy of 73 years. 





Could there be a connection with kaizen?  http://www.spa.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=67

2011 Legatum ranking http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=SG

More countries, such as Malaysia are considering a National Kaizen Movement for their country.  Why?  Because it works anywhere in any size, family, organization, or team.  It's not just for Japan anymore.

What country have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer
http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/

Kaizen Klips #2 "Let's help him see it."

I keep a playlist of videos that illustrate continuous improvement in interesting ways. Here is #2 from the miniseries From Earth to Moon.  This clip features engineers coming up with a different way of thinking about landing on the moon.




What have you helped people to see today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer
http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/

Kaizen or hillbilly batching?

One trampoline flow or leaf batching?

Make it easier, make it visible

Over the years, I have learned how to take care of my cars better and better. I wanted to see what kaizens I could do so that family members can help me better monitor key auto fluid levels. So, here was my first attempt to make the process of checking more visible and easier:



So, I now build on the first idea:



What ideas have you improved upon today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer
http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/

Why every family in American needs a continuous improvement program

Today, I am going to take a little more serious tone in this post than usual.  Most Americans hear news stories everyday about inflation but the implications get lost between celebrity sound bites and junk news.  People don't realize that accumulating effects of inflation each year that eats away savings and family finances.  In addition, monetary policy of the central bank is punishing savers by paying little or no interest.  So, your costs go up and your net income goes down-it's a double whammy.  However, there is a counter punch that any family can use to fight this threat-Kaizen.

First, a graph from http://www.shadowstats.com/ that shows the rate of inflation from the 1980 formula that is more accurate than today's formula (that conveniently excludes energy and food):

At 10% annual inflation, what a dollar would buy today will require $1.61 to purchase in 2017.  Even if you use the official 2% inflation figure, your dollar will lose over 10% of its purchasing power in just five years.  What can citizens do?  While we can't control inflation, we can control our response to this threat and mobilize our family, our focus, and our creativity and start your own continuous improvement program at home.

So, here's what you can do:

1) Educate your family on the effects of inflation.

2) Start a kaizen program and get everyone involved.  Have every family member contribute ideas in the following areas:

• What are we paying for that we are not using?
• How can we eliminate debt faster?
• What resources are we wasting?
• What areas do we have resources that we should be using but aren't?
• How can we do things better?
• What skills can we develop that could help the family?
• What can we optimize that is not optimal today?
• What improvements can we make today to make life better?

3) Track your ideas and savings and share the results so everyone home can see it.  Make it fun and recognize the good work and good ideas that come out of this effort.

This blog was founded on the idea that Kaizen, change for the better, is a martial art form that can fight the inflation monster.  I urge all families to start now...it's never too late to start improving.

What have you improved today?

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer