Kaizen bridge questions (listed in no particular order):
1. Have all of your employees been trained in basic problem-solving methods, and are they encouraged and coached on how to use them?
2. Is the environment one of problem solving or problem hiding?
3. Has the organization developed good plan-do-check-act (PDCA) rigor through the proper application of kaizen events, and has virtually everyone participated in multiple events?
4. Do you have an effective lean management system that employs leader standard work, visual controls, and cascading tiered performance metrics?
5. Have you implemented a pragmatic suggestion system that emphasizes quick implementation of true incremental improvement (kaizen teian), typically by the person who suggests the improvement?
6. Do you broadly and virally share improvement ideas?
7. Do you apply the 5 Whys or 5 Whos?
8. Do the lean leaders promote A3 thinking?
9. Has the organization sufficiently resourced the kaizen promotion office (aka lean function) to help teach, coach, and facilitate improvement activities?
10. Is the focus of improvement such that the order of importance is easier, better, faster, and cheaper?
11. Are employees fearful of failure or do they—and leadership—see it as a necessary means of learning and improving?
12. Are you internally capable (or at least getting there), or are you suffering from consultant dependency?
13. Do folks know what "true north" is and how they can do their part to get there?
14. Is the culture one of humility and respect for the individual?
15. Is lean applied within the context of a holistic lean business system?
I know there are many more. What would you add to the list?
About The Author
Mark R. Hamel is a lean Six Sigma implementation consultant, blogger and award-winning author. His book, Kaizen Event Fieldbook: Foundation, Framework, and Standard Work for Effective Events (Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 2010), received a 2010 Shingo Research and Professional Publications Award. Hamel can be reached at mark@kaizenfieldbook.com.
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