Alvarado-Ramírez, Karla María; Pumisacho-Álvaro, Víctor Hipólito; Miguel-Davila, José Ángel; Suárez Barraza, Manuel F.
2018 The TQM Journal
The purpose of this paper is to compare the practices of continuous improvement that are applied in medium and large manufacturing and service companies in two Latin American countries. At the same time, benefits and barriers experienced by these companies with regard to sustainability of continuous improvement are explored.Design/methodology/approachIn order to generate a comparative study between two Latin American countries, interviews were conducted with managers linked to continuous improvement in medium and large companies in the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito, which are important areas in Mexico and Ecuador, respectively. Data were collected by means of document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and direct observation.FindingsCompanies in both countries identify the use of various techniques and/or tools for continuous improvement. The results of the empirical evidence show how the impact of the application of the techniques has been beneficial in economic and human terms. Thus, the exploratory study has permitted the identification of the drivers and inhibitors in the maintenance of continuous improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on only two areas of the Latin American countries: Mexico and Ecuador. Their results can therefore not be generalized. The approach is applied in a specific environment, namely, the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito. This study incorporates the perception of managers, directors, and/or supervisors involved in continuous improvement processes.Practical implicationsThis paper seeks to provide analytical input. The study is of great interest to researchers, managers, consultants, and professionals linked to projects of continuous improvement who wish to incorporate continuous improvement practices which are sustainable over time. A new managerial behavior is the basis of continuous improvement, where the training and development of the human resource increases the commitment to achieve organizational changes.Originality/valueThis research makes an empirical contribution to the literature through the understanding of practices of continuous improvement in a Latin American context, highlighting the factors that improve or impede the process of continuous improvement. Particularly in Mexico and Ecuador, the empirical evidence on this subject is still scarce despite the existence of theoretical academic literature.
2018 The TQM Journal
The development and application of systematic procedures enabling Kaizen methodology development are still very rare, especially in the service industry. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a set of innovative improvement methodologies of service quality to enhance the extent and depth of Kaizen in the service domain.Design/methodology/approachCombining the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method with impact matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC), which is more convenient in calculation and application, and Fuzzy theory not only effectively integrates opinions of multiple experts, but also improves the conventional MICMAC method, which can only make binary judgment on the mutual influence of elements, by making it able to judge the degree of influence, thereby delivering more accuracy in evaluating the results.FindingsThis innovative method which integrates Fuzzy-MICMAC with IPA displayed its usability in the analysis and research of a certain university library on service quality, and significant differences were found on comparing it with the conventional IPA method. The comparison and suggestion were proposed.Research limitations/implicationsThe number of the experts involved and samples under investigation were limited, hence findings were not comprehensive enough and cannot be generalized. This sets the direction for future research.Originality/valueThis proposed method helps in overcoming the lack of systematic procedures enabling Kaizen methodology for service quality. It has the advantage of integrating existing tools and models effectively, which not only improve the shortcomings of the conventional methods, but also result in more convenient calculation and application, to promote Kaizen in service domain.
Jaca, Carmen; Ormazabal, Marta; Viles, Elisabeth; Santos, Javier
2018 The TQM Journal
The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology that is based on the concept of environmental comfort and can serve as a tool that can help companies and employees to implement Kaizen projects. This methodology focuses on the worker’s participation in analyzing and developing improvements related to their workplace.Design/methodology/approachThis research is focused on the development of a methodology that encourages worker participation in improvement activities, through the analysis of their working conditions. For this purpose, the proposed methodology was developed in accordance with the dimensions of workplace comfort proposed by Vischer. The employees start working on the analysis of problems and their solutions through the logical framework approach, as it is a tool that encourages worker participation and consensus. The developed methodology was applied in a company, with three different groups of people, which enabled the authors to test its utility.FindingsThe findings reveal that the proposed methodology is effective in initiating workers in the path of Kaizen. The employees who applied this methodology were able to propose improvement actions that addressed the problems and opportunities that they had previously detected. Moreover, the questionnaire that was used to validate the methodology and was administered to employees shows that the methodology is useful in preparing them for adopting continuous improvement (CI) programs.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology presented in this paper has been applied and evaluated by a small number of employees. These limitations suggest future research recommendations.Practical implicationsThis participatory methodology could be used by different types of companies to initiate employees on the path of CI, even if they are not familiar with improvement programs or methodologies. In addition, its use could improve the capabilities of employees in areas such as participatory analysis, problem identification and proposal of objectives. These capabilities are necessary in any Kaizen project. As a result of the application of this methodology, the companies could obtain a list of areas of improvement related to their work and propose actions to work on.Originality/valueThe paper presents the use of environmental comfort in the workplace as the first step in accomplishing a Kaizen project, with a focus on the employee involvement and consensus.
Marin-Garcia, Juan A.; Juarez-Tarraga, Amable; Santandreu-Mascarell, Cristina
2018 The TQM Journal
The purpose of this paper is to perform a context analysis about a specific Kaizen program, suggestion systems in permanent teams, and identified the barriers and facilitators that companies encounter while implementing them from the workers’ perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied an inductive method, the Grounded Theory, to develop a specific context theory using the information that emerged from a convenience sample of 182 workers in several countries.FindingsThe facilitators and barriers identified for the workers in the field study are aligned with those identified in previous studies, generally obtained using information provided by managers. The methodology enabled us to identify the relationships between them and their level of relevance.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations were linked with the source of the data as the authors worked with a convenience sample and only analyzed the information provided by the workers.Practical implicationsThe identified facilitators, their relationships and their relevance, contribute to understand the functioning phenomena of suggestion systems in permanent teams to facilitate organizations using this continuous improvement program more effectively.Originality/valueThe originality of this study, apart from identifying facilitators from the workers’ perspective, is that the used method enabled us to identify the relationships between them and know how the operators perceived their relevance.
Fonseca, Luis Miguel; Domingues, José Pedro
2018 The TQM Journal
ISO 9001:2015 edition, by adopting modern management and quality approaches, can foster the application of continuous improvement (CI) methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of utilization of Kaizen and other CI methodologies within Portuguese ISO 9001 certified organizations, namely, amid organizations that have already implemented ISO 9001:2015.Design/methodology/approachAfter the literature review, a quantitative research, supported on an online survey, was adopted. The survey yielded 309 valid responses (response rate 18 percent) encompassing 71 organizations already certified against ISO 9001:2015 and the remaining 238 against ISO 9001:2008. The results of the statistical analysis performed were reviewed with a focus group of five quality and organizational excellence managers.FindingsThe results show a mildly use of Kaizen, Lean and Six Sigma (SS) by Portuguese ISO 9001 certified organizations, which is increase when compared to previous studies. The sample of organizations that are already certified by ISO 9001:2015 have mean and median levels of customer improvement methodologies adoption (Lean, Kaizen, SS) higher than those that are still certified against ISO 9001:2008. However, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that these differences are not statistically significant. Concerning the adoption of these methodologies by activity sector, the sample median values seem to suggest that Lean and SS are more commonly adopted in the industry than in the services, but according to the Kruskal-Wallis test these differences are not statistically significant. Checklists, plan-do-check-act cycle and process diagrams, followed by DMAIC, are the quality tools that are most frequently adopted. A high workload due to the transition process for ISO 9001:2015 and the lack of qualified people were suggested as possible explanations for these results by the Expert Focus Group.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is restricted to ISO 9001 certified organizations in Portugal and due to the short time since ISO 9001:2015 implementation it should be considered as having an explanatory nature and subject to future confirmation.Originality/valueThis study on the application of CI methodologies between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2008 certified organizations contributes to the Kaizen and CI body of knowledge and provides inputs to the organizations and professionals that aim to successfully apply it.
Gonzalez-Aleu, Fernando; Van Aken, Eileen M.; Cross, Jennifer; Glover, Wiljeana J.
2018 The TQM Journal
Evidence suggests that hospitals are having problems achieving continuous improvement project (CIP) goals or sustaining their results. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify those critical success factors (CSFs) most strongly related to CIP success in hospitals (Lean-Kaizen project, Lean Six Sigma project, Six Sigma projects, and Quality Improvement projects).Design/methodology/approachA retrospective survey was applied to any CIP leaders/facilitators from hospitals that conducted at least one CIP during the last two years.FindingsThree main findings were obtained from the 116 valid responses. First, the level of importance of 47 out of 53 CSFs to achieve CIPs success in hospitals was assessed as very important or higher (4 or higher on a six-point scale). Second, there are important differences between the CSFs to achieve CIP success in hospitals in this research and previous investigations. Third, the type of CIP affects the level of importance of 16 out of 53 CSFs to achieve CIP success in hospitals.Originality/valuePractitioners involved with CIPs activities in hospitals could use the knowledge extracted from this investigation to improve the impact of their CIPs. Future research should continue in two lines: test if the 53 CSFs for CIPs measure a unique factor and identify the main relationships or paths between CSFs for CIPs and CIP outcomes.
Álvarez-García, José; Durán-Sánchez, Amador; del Río-Rama, María de la Cruz
2018 The TQM Journal
Since Masaaki Imai coined the term Kaizen in the mid-1980s, it has been seen as a key element for the competitiveness of Japanese companies, and it is currently a widely discussed philosophy and is applied in a wide range of organizations throughout the world. The purpose of this paper is to serve as guidance for researchers who are developing their studies in the field of the Kaizen philosophy, in order to improve their knowledge on the most relevant articles, the most productive authors or the key scientific journals that make up this subject.Design/methodology/approachIn order to fulfill the proposed objective, a descriptive bibliometric study was carried out with the analysis of citations from 138 articles included in the multidisciplinary database Scopus (Elsevier) until 2016. For the search of documents, a tracking strategy was chosen that allowed for the development of the ad hoc database required to analyze each of the basic variables of the bibliometric indicators.FindingsThe results obtained show a growing interest of the scientific community in its study in the last decade, as shown by the significant increase in citations received by articles, despite the reduction in the number of papers published in the last two years.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations are derived from the choice of a specific database, as well as the specific search equation.Originality/valueThe study presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of research regarding the Kaizen philosophy through its bibliometric study, providing useful information for academics and professionals by providing a series of significant indicators to measure the bibliographic material.
Carnerud, Daniel; Jaca, Carmen; Bäckström, Ingela
2018 The TQM Journal
The purpose of this paper is to depict how Kaizen and continuous improvement (CI) are represented in scientific journals focusing on quality management (QM) from the 1980s until 2017. Additionally, the study aims to examine how Kaizen is studied and described and how the relationship between Kaizen and CI is portrayed.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies a mixed methods approach to search for tendencies and outlines concerning Kaizen and CI in four scientific journals focusing on QM and two focusing on OM. The data set contains entries from 1980 until 2017, which makes it possible to depict how Kaizen has evolved over more than 30 years.FindingsThe findings show that Kaizen and CI attained special interest in the mid-1990s, after which interest appears to have decreased. However, the findings imply that a regenerated interest for the areas spiked post 2010. In addition, the results indicate that Kaizen is on the one hand accepted by one part of the management community but on the other hand completely ignored by the rest. Finally, the data illuminate a need to strengthen and clarify Kaizen’s theoretical basis and its relationship to CI.Practical implicationsIf an aspiration exists to increase the success rate of Kaizen implementation, the results from the study highlight the need to address and clarify epistemological, terminological and theoretical issues.Originality/valuePrior data mining studies pinpointing how Kaizen and CI have evolved over the last 30 years appear not to exist.
Mendez, Jesus; Vila-Alonso, Mercedes
2018 The TQM Journal
The purpose of this paper is to know, from a three-dimensional perspective (operational, emotional and behavioral), the process of “putting down roots” related with the implementation of Kaizen until it becomes sustainable. The research aims to know how this “putting down roots” process is carried out, what transformations occur, what elements are involved and what role they represent in achieving sustainability.Design/methodology/approachFor this purpose, a methodology based on the case study has been used, an interpretive approach to reality has been adopted as a paradigm and the Grounded Theory has been applied as an analytical technique.FindingsThe results suggest the existence of a transformation process that leads to creating new habits, beliefs and feelings, a phenomenon that the authors identify as a three-dimensional learning process (operational, emotional and behavioral).Practical implicationsThis type of learning is perceived as a transition toward an organizational culture that ensures the roots of the Kaizen principles, which is essential for its sustainability and which favors the creation of talent and the well-being of employees, two challenges that the Kaizen of the twenty-first century must face.Originality/valueThe document includes innovative contributions to the Kaizen sustainability phenomenon, as it is dealt with from a three-dimensional perspective that underlies the inhibitors and enablers known in the current literature.
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