--- title: Understanding the Kaizen Approach description: A popular concept within lean is kaizen, which refers to any improvement. Read our blog to learn more about how you can benefit from kaizen. image: https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Images/continuous_improvement.jpg --- Learn more about how to choose the right ERP with our ERP Evaluations Series. [Learn More.](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) # Understanding the Kaizen Approach By [Joseph Timmins](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) August 18, 2016 1 Minute Read One of the most popular buzzwords associated with [lean](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/what-is-lean-manufacturing) is ***kaizen***, or *“change for the better.”* Kaizen refers to any improvement – one time or continuous, large or small. Kaizen, which is considered more of a philosophy than a tool, is often found in a variety of process improvement methods ranging from total quality management (TQM) to employee suggestion boxes.   ## Benefitting from Kaizen Under Kaizen, employees are responsible for identifying the gaps and inefficiencies and everyone, at every level in the organization, suggests places for improvement. Target improvements focus on productivity, effectiveness, safety, and waste reduction. And, benefits come in more ways than one, including: - Less inventory waste and overproduction - Better use of employee time and skill sets - Higher employee satisfaction levels - Higher employee retention rates - Improved employee/team commitment - Improved problem solving/collaboration - Increased customer satisfaction - Increased competitiveness - Increased profit and decreased loss ## Kaizen Events ![continuous_improvement.jpg](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/continuous_improvement.jpg?width=331&name=continuous_improvement.jpg)Kaizen Events are typically focused on immediate results in solving a problem or implementing an improvement in a defined time period. The time period is usually short, like half a day. ERP systems provide the right input to Kaizen Events as data to support sound decisions to quantify problems (e.g., days to pay, time to produce, volume of orders, scrap, returns, etc.). At the completion of the Kaizen Event, good processes are implemented. Newer ERP systems provide workflow and alert capabilities to ensure that the results of the Kaizen Event stick.      Are you looking for an ERP system to support your lean culture and to make Kaizen Events more fruitful? If so, the experts at Acuity welcome discussion on your options. We’ll help you incorporate new approaches that suit your business and streamline your processes! [Contact us](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact) today for more information. [![30 minute challenge CTA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/420229/9c5e79cd-aae6-4c96-9733-f5cf13a85460.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/420229/9c5e79cd-aae6-4c96-9733-f5cf13a85460) #### Joseph Timmins Author ## Recommended For You [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxiKXDW08.png)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/kanban) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) 1 Min Read ### [Kanban](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/kanban) [Joseph Timmins August 3, 2016](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![kanban](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/kanban.jpg)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/kanban-101-the-blog-and-the-video) [kanban](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/kanban) 1 Min Read ### [Kanban 101: The Blog and the Video](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/kanban-101-the-blog-and-the-video) [Joseph Timmins October 11, 2018](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxiRXnO_k.png)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/applying-lean-to-your-front-office-with-erp) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) [lean](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean) 2 Min Read ### [Applying Lean to Your Front Office with ERP](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/applying-lean-to-your-front-office-with-erp) [Joseph Timmins February 16, 2017](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) ![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png) 125 Whipple Street Providence, Rhode Island 02908 [401.243.8480](tel:401-243-8480) 877.361.6534 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us)