Kaizen in Education Online Teaching

South East Asian Institute of Educational Training Inc.
(SEAIETI) welcomes you to our Online International
Training Series.

Course Content
Introduction to Kaizen
1. Concept & Origin of Lean & Kaizen from Toyota Production
System (TPS) and purpose of Kaizen.
2. The creation of a Kaizen Culture.
3. The Five Principles of Kaizen.
(The Seven Steps Improvement Process)
4. Kaizen in Education.
5. Purpose of Kaizen & the strategic application in the Educational
Institution.
6. How to introduce Kaizen Principles in Education.
7. Kaizen in Teaching & Learning

This course will adopt an instructor-led and facilitated e-learning
model, where the content of the course will be delivered through
elements and activities that are arranged into a chronological order
and where each participant is expected to perform the same tasks
and deliver the same outputs.
Methodology
The course is scheduled and led by a qualified instructor and/or
facilitator though an online learning platform. E-learning content
and open educational resources (OER) for individual study will be
integrated with instructor’s lectures, individual assignments, and
collaborative activities among participants.

E-learning content and (OER) for individual study will be integrated
with instructor’s lectures, individual assignments, and collaborative
activities among participants.
Learners, facilitators and instructors can use communication tools
such as emails, discussion forums, chats, polls, whiteboards,
application sharing, and audio and video conferencing to
communicate and work together.
At the end, participants are expected to submit a technology
integrated lesson plan to determine if they can properly integrate
technology in the teaching and learning process. Learning
activities for the course will be delivered by:

Methodology
Adapting traditional teaching styles to online classroom
environment using technology to deliver and to interact
with Test /Activities which includes;
 reflection
 case studies
 sharing of experience
 practical applications
These will form part of the assessment and will be given in a
soft copy together with a downloadable PPT slides and Video
of lectures.

Mode of Assessment
Submission of Participants’ test answers on reflection,
case studies and feedback on application of learning to
real work setting, followed by an Evaluation.
Purpose
To gage effectiveness
of Participant’s
understanding of
Topics delivered so
as to apply learning
at real workplace.

Reflection
1. What is Kaizen and its purpose?
2. What are the 7 basic Waste in Kaizen?
3. How to apply the concept of Kaizen in
Education?
4. What are the benefits of Kaizen in Education?
5. List down the 5 Fundamental KAIZEN
Principles
Your Test Question for your Certificate of Participation

Case Studies
1. Study the PDCA Quality Improvement Cycle,
and share how you can use this tool to ‘Prepare
a Lesson Plan’ for Continuous Improvement?
2. Study the 7 Steps Improvement Process in
Kaizen. How you can apply it in your school
setting?
Your Test Question for your Certificate of Participation

Sharing Experience
1. Study the 6 Steps Kaizen Quality Improvement
Method Model. Identify an Improvement potential
in your school and share how you apply these 6
steps.
2. What are the expected Results / Outcomes of this
application?

Application
1. Identify and area in your school that you want to
improve, use the Kaizen tools to to improve it.
2. Share your thoughts/ outcomes of this application.

Kaizen is about changing the way things are.
If you assume that things
are all right the way they
are, you can’t do kaizen.
So change something!
-Taiichi Ohno

The word “kaizen”, where “kai” = change & “zen” = good, simply
means “change for better”. In English kaizen typically means
measures for implementing continuous improvement.
Kaizen is a continuous
improvement activity approach
to organization based on self-
discipline, order and economy.
Kaizen method is a fundamental
part of a lean production
process in Lean manufacturing.

Kaizen refers to any activities that continually improve processes
and by removing waste and involves every employee, right from
the CEO to the assembly line workers.
Kaizen is a common practice
in Japan and applies to any
processes, in any
organization or Institution
including logistics, that cross
organizational boundaries
into the supply chain.

Kaizen aims to eliminate waste and redundancies. It was first
practiced in Japanese businesses after World War II, then
influence American business and Quality-Management Teachers,
as part of (TPS) Toyota Production System.
It has since spread throughout
the world and has been applied
to environments outside
business and productivity and
to Service Organization and
Educational Institutions.

Kaizen evolved from manufacturing to service industry and
public sectors. Today, Lean / Kaizen is being used by
organizations and institution around the world, in the public
and private sectors, including educational Institution to
improve;
 Customer service,
 Quality and efficiency,
 Staff morale,
 Internal communication &
 Cooperation.

The concept and origins of Kaizen in Lean Management and the
difference between both originated from Toyota Production System
Lean Management has been
popularized in the Western
world since 1989, with Kaizen
or continuous improvement to
be the “building block" of Lean
production methods.

The purpose of Kaizen, focusing on eliminating waste goes
beyond simple productivity improvement.
When Kaizen is done correctly,
the process humanizes the
workplace, eliminates overly
hard work, and teaches people
how to spot and eliminate
waste in operational and
business processes.
The purpose of Kaizen

In Education, the purpose of Kaizen should be very clearly stated
and aligned with the strategic direction of the Educational
Institution.
Strategy must be a reflection
of ‘customer value’ (value to
student) as monitored
through simplicity, quality,
speed, cost, motivation, and
growth measurements.

The creation of a kaizen
culture is based on seven
principles, values,
behaviors, and beliefs
embedded in the
corporate and individual
unconsciousness.
2. The creation of a kaizen culture.
Customer Value should always be defined (and continuously refined)
from all stakeholders’ perspectives. Here, the primary customer
remains the Student.

Elements of KAIZEN:
• Work discipline
• TPM
• Kanban
• Quality circles
• Quality improvement
• JIT
• Zero defects
• Small group improvement
• Productivity improvement
• Customer orientation
• Total Quality Control/ Statistical Process Control SPC principles etc
“If you learn only one word of Japanese, make it KAIZEN.”
–Masaaki Imai-

This culture of excellence will sustain the use of efficiency methods,
tools, and techniques. Continuous Improvement efforts in Education
have mainly failed during the past century.
However, with a Kaizen
approach, this can be
turned around as proven
in all sectors in
Organizations & in
Educational Institutions

Propagating ‘kaizen culture’
of excellence through
continuous improvement
activities will go a long way
to break down the
resistance to change.
The creation of a Kaizen culture require knowledge, skill,
experimenting and learning, inspired by committed kaizen
leadership.

The Kaizen Philosophy
Furthermore, all problems
should be seen as
“opportunities for
improvement”.
The core philosophy behind Kaizen is simple:
“You can always make or do things better, even if they
seem to work well in a particular moment.”

3. The Kaizen Principle
The Kaizen principle is a Japanese management philosophy that
literally translates as 'continuous (Kai) improvement (zen)'.
According to Kaizen definition,
the method helps improve
productivity of an organization
/ Institution.
It does this by continuously
taking simple steps that lead
to improvements.

3. The Five Principles of Kaizen
There are 5 Fundamental KAIZEN Principles that are embedded in
every KAIZEN tool and in every KAIZEN behavior.
The 5 principles are:
1. Know your Customer (Student)
2. Let it Flow
3. Go to Gemba
4. Empower People and
5. Be Transparent

3. The Five Principles of Kaizen
The 5 principles are to
mark a turning point in
the progression of
quality, productivity,
and labor-management
relations.
The implementation of these 5 principles in any organization
is fundamentally important for a successful Continuous
Improvement culture.

Principle #1 Know your Customer (Student)
Knowledge of who you are selling a product or service to is how
one creates value. In this case, knowing your student well is
how you creates value.
It is key that you know and
are able to identify your
customers’ (students’)
interest to enhance
their experience.

Principle #2 Let it Flow
This applies to the target of achieving zero muda (waste) as
the goal. It might sound impossible, but that’s kaizen for you:
if you could achieve that objective, improvement would stop.
Therefore, everyone in the
organization must work
towards removing any waste
from their corner of the
organization while also
creating value in the process.

Principle #3 Go to Gemba
You can think of it as
following the action, as
value is created where
something is actually
happening.
Gemba in Japanese is “the real place” or shop floor. In this
context, it's about leadership and knowing what is happening at
the real place of every level of the organization.

Principle #4 Empower People
Respect fosters improvement by
reinforcing for each team member
that their input is valued and that
management is interested in
creating the conditions required for
everyone to do their best work.
Showing respect for people is one of the fundamental principles
of Kaizen.

Principle #5 Be Transparent
Therefore, performance
and improvements must
be tracked with real data
to support it.
Data is the strongest determining factor. It is the metric that
measures success. Performance and Improvement should be
made Tangible and Visible.

•Widely applicable
•Teaches how to solve everyday problems themselves
•Faster delivery, lower costs, greater customer satisfaction
•Highly effective, transparent and result-oriented
•Team-based cross-functional, data-driven
•Optimization of the work environment and production facilities
•Reduce waste (inventory, time, motion, transportation etc)
•Continual small improvements add up to major benefits
•Redevelopment of the communication with other departments
•Increase employees morale, job satisfaction, sense of responsibility
•Improve productivity, quality, use of capital, space utilization etc
Benefits of KAZEN Principles to the Organization

The Seven Steps Improvement Process.
Continuous Service Improvements should center on increasing
efficiency, maximizing the effectiveness, reducing the cost of
service, and underlying IT service management.
And the only way to
accomplish the task is to
ensure that the improvement
opportunities are identified
throughout the service
lifecycle.

The seven steps Improvement Process constitute what is
known as a knowledge spiral.
The knowledge gathered from
one level becomes the input to
the other level.
It moves from operational
management to tactical
management and finally
strategic management.

1.Identify the approach for improvement
Prior to implementing an improvement strategy, it’s necessary to
understand the necessity for Continuous Improvement.
Take into account the final goals set
for the Institution and see how the IT
Department can assist in achieving
those targets through continuous
improvements. Consider future and
present plans as well.

2.Define what should be measured
A comparison should be made amid what we can ideally and
actually measure.
Gaps should be identified
and a realistic measurement
plan should be incorporated
to support the strategy for
improvement.

3.Collect the essential data:
Data is gathered through persistent monitoring.
The process of monitoring
can be done either through
manually or technology can
be utilized to the fullest to
automate the entire process
and simplify it.

4. Process the data
Once the data is collected through continuous monitoring, it
is then converted into the form required by the audience.
This can be considered as
a conversion of metrics into
Key Performance Indicator
(KPI) results and change
the available data into
information.

5. Analyze the information and data:
The multiple sources of data are combined to transform the
information into knowledge, and further analyzed to find the gaps
and their impact on the overall business.
The information is further evaluated
considering all the relevant internal
and external factors. It also helps to
answer questions regarding
something that is good or bad and is it
expected and in line with the targets.

6. Proper presentation and utilization of information
The information which is gathered and analyzed needs to be
presented in a proper manner with the right amount of detail.
This is to allow the
information to be
comprehensible and to
provide the required amount
of detail to support informed
decision making.

7. Implement the improvements
A change implemented with continuous improvement sets a new
baseline for the entire process.
The knowledge obtained should be
combined with the previous
experience and used to make
informed decisions and necessary
improvements. The improvements
made must focus on optimizing and
correcting the services, processes,
and tools.

Conclusion
The Seven Steps improvement Process is a vital process and
thus identifies the opportunities available for improving
services, tools, processes, etc.
The process initiates service
measurement, service
reporting, and improvement.
This helps to define the
service baseline

Education is a continuous process where the information is
processed and the resultant knowledge will be applied for the
betterment of both the individual and society.
In this context, Kaizen greatly aids
the very purpose of education.
By absorbing the Kaizen
concepts right from the childhood,
students will strive to achieve the
best as they convert into adults.
4. Kaizen in Education

Kaizen in education is not an unheard of tactic. In fact, many of
the several schools across the globe have implemented the
practices of Kaizen into their classrooms.
This is the reasoning
behind the constant
and consistent task to
strive further
achievement.

Kaizen in Education helps teachers implement new teaching
methodology whereby students will be able to grasp the teachings
easily and they will be able to remember the concepts for ever.
Kaizen in schools refers to
continuous quality improvement
of students' learning through the
use of innovative kaizen
teaching techniques and tools
being implemented by the
teachers and school.

It is possible to review the way examinations are conducted.
It is possible to frame exams in such a way that student’s logical
thinking and understanding power are traced in a better way.
You will not treat students as
mere memorizing machines
and testing their memory by
reproducing what is
remembered through
examinations.

Kaizen success in streamlining processes, and efficiency
improvement in Educational Institutions has led many Lean
Universities globally to implement large-scale change programs
to review their administrative services and develop a culture of
continuous improvement.
Lean University Program
provides a way to the
growing need to deliver
more with less using
LEAN / KAIZEN principles.

Kaizen in Education uses cultural change to deliver improved
service and decreased costs. It develops a sense of ownership for
work by involving people at the right level.
It also develops Team work
within departments, making
the University;
 Leaner,
 Smaller, and
 Increasing morale.

As a society, we were once contented with a mediocre education
system.
However, times have
changed and we are now
nearing the forefront of the
top educational standards in
some areas.
This is all due to the
implementation of kaizen in
Education.

Some of the results of Implementing Lean / Kaizen in University
Education Program are;
 Reduced Costs,
 Reduce Process Times,
 Better service to Students,
 Simpler administration for
Academics,
 More time for staff to do
important things.

Transformation
The transformation to kaizen will essentially be seamless. It will be
integral to the success of each student.
There will be greater
progress and overall
prosperity once students
and teachers are accustom
to the concepts associated
with Kaizen.

Transformation
By applying Kaizen in Education to school curriculum, outdated
chapters and contents can be figured out quickly.
These outdated curriculum
and textbooks can be
appended and replaced with
value added contents as per
the current generation’s line
of thinking.

Transformation
By undergoing this type of transformation process, the system will
be refined and improved.
There will be elimination of
wastage in all aspects and
students will have access
to the best possible
material than ever before.

Students will be able to implement new things by keeping Kaizen
concept in mind. There will be no clash or conflict in the thinking
process.
Teachers will get the
opportunity to reconsider
even substantial teaching
methodologies to seek
improvement.

Consistency
As Kaizen improve the process on a continuous basis, the framing
of rules & guidelines will happen on a continuous basis too.
You will take measures to
prevent failures or the
breakdown of existing
systems.
There will be room for the
generation of new ideas.

Consistency
The ideas that are useful in the best interests of the overall
organization will be implemented without any hesitation.
There will also be continuous
monitoring of the milestones
that were achieved with
remedial measures taken to
streamline the process to
achieve greater success
through Kaizen in Education.

5. Purpose of Kaizen & the strategic application in the
Educational Institution.
The purpose of Kaizen in the Educational Institution is to improve
the methodology of teaching inline with current time and
expectation within the organization to achieve its goal.
One of the most important
tasks in Kaizen involves
improving the quality of
teaching by achieving TQC
(total quality control) using
TQM (total quality
management) approaches.

1. Customer (Student) focus.
2. Total employee commitment.
3. Process (Teaching Methodology) approach.
4. Integrated system.
5. Strategic and systematic approach.
6. Continual improvement.
7. Fact-based decision-making.
8. Communications.
Total Quality Improvement (TQM) approach in Education
While there is not a single agreed-upon approach, the most
common TQM definition includes the following eight principles.

5. Purpose of Kaizen & the strategic application in the
Educational Institution.
The kaizen method is now a base model for other QIM (quality
improvement methods) including;
 suggestion systems,
 automation,
 small group activities,
 just-in-time,
 zero defects,
 total quality control,
 etc.

The kaizen Quality Improvement Method Model

6. How to introduce Kaizen Principles in Education?
Masaaki Imai first exposed Kaizen concept only to improve
industrial efficiency in Japan, has now become an interesting
theory in the Teaching and Learning process.
The application of
Kaizen in Teaching &
Learning is anchored
on Kaizen Principles
by Masaaki Imai, who
articulated that,
“Kaizen strategy is the
single most important
concept in Japanese
management, the key
to Japanese
competitive success.”

Success using Kaizen Principles as a strategy in Teaching and
Learning has manifested in many organizations around the world.
Hence, many Authors and
Educators have tried the
effectiveness of Kaizen
Principles in Teaching and
Learning in their respective
area of specialization.

Kaizen Principles can be effectively implemented in education
to get great benefits in the overall development of the student
and the school as well.
The strategy revolves around
the continuous improvement
measures.
Let us see how Kaizen in
Education can be implemented
with importance using the
Kaizen PDCA Tool.

Kaizen QIM Tools used by Teachers in Teaching

In Japan, Kaizen has been a familiar term in schools.
This is why most schools in Japan are frequently changing.
Kaizen in schools refers to
continuous quality improvement
of students’ learning through the
use of innovative (kaizen)
teaching techniques and tools
being implemented by the
teachers and supported by
school administration.

Kaizen QIM Tools used by Teachers and School Administration.

The strategy revolves around the continuous improvement
measures of;
Effectiveness of Kaizen principles in various areas of learning facilitation
Adaption of Kaizen principles to teaching
Sustaining continuous quality improvement in all learning undertakings
practicality of the principles in teaching,
 reliability in learning among various learners,
 effectiveness in educational leadership.
 The role that teachers and school leaders in the implementation of
continuous quality improvement to attain and sustain the effectiveness
and efficiency of quality learning in the academic context.

Revolutionizing Teaching and Learning through Kaizen philosophy
to achieve quality education has been a vital concern among
educators in the academe in the world today.
Kaizen is built on quality in the
total process of teaching.
To Kaizen, is to implement Kaizen
principles using appropriate tools
for continuous quality
improvement in the Teaching
process.

7. Kaizen in Teaching and Learning
Kaizen in Teaching and Learning “The basis for learning in the
classroom is known as the constant improvement where
teachers and students always seek ways to improve the system to
enhance the fun of learning”. -Lal Fonseka
Kaizen method is beneficial and
acquiring kaizen skill has changed
what Educators used to be and what
they used to do. This Principle had
totally changed perception of
effectiveness, efficiency, commitment
and quality profession.

In the book, The Learning Revolution, co-authors Jeanette Vos
and Gordon Dryden explained that revolutionizing schools
through Kaizen has optimistic effects.
The significant results have
been evident in the Mt.
Edgecumbe High School, in
Sitka, Alaska, the school
that pioneered Total Quality
Management or TQM and
Kaizen in America.

Among some of the results were as
follows:
a) Students have established pilot
companies
b) They have learned foreign languages,
quality control, statistical analysis,
mathematics, exporting, marketing,
accounting and more.
c) Teachers and students are considered
as co- Managers as they set goals and
implement plans collectively.
d) The first week of each school year is
used for building self-esteem

With the objective of improving students’ learning in mind,
kaizening class instructions can be done!
The primary duty of the
teachers is to work on
possible ways to improve
the classroom
instructions with the help
of students, member
teachers and
administration.

Teachers should improve (kaizen) their instructional tools like;
 the laptop,
 desktop,
 overhead projector or
 mobile phones.
Lessons must be planned and organized well, putting the
student’s level of intelligence, learning style and interest in mind.

Students should be able to find solutions and applicable
instructions when problems arise. Teachers should be fully
aware of students’ needs in this era of technology, that have
changed their learning preference.
In fact many students
nowadays prefer to glue
their heads onto their
mobile phones rather than
to listen to teacher’s
instructions.

When Students get bored doing their homework and listen to
teacher’s litany of daily chores; you need to resort to using more
innovative techniques, like utilization of I-pad or smart phones to
capture student’s attention and motivate them to learn.
When Students are bored with
heavy, printed books for home
reading assignments; you need
to change to giving them reading
stories or novels in e-books as
home reading activities.

When Students get bored with traditional collaborative learning
or peer-involvement approach; you could resort to using social
media, like Facebook, Instagram or Tweeter.
Many students may already
disliked arrays of common
assessments given after every
lectures; you could present online
games as formative assessment
using their smart-phones or
YouTube to analyze uploaded
videos of diverse social issues.

Kaizening classroom instructions requires creativity and
persistence from the Teacher. Equally important is also Teachers
have to motivate students to share in the process of improving
classroom instructions for continuous improvement in their studies.
Teachers should seek student’s
needs through;
 feedback,
 one-on-one consultation and
 focused group discussion,
among others.

References
1. Kaizen: Masaaki Imai-The Key To Japan's Competitive Success
2. Gordon Dryden & Jeanette Vos, Kaizen, How Kaizen philosophy is
revolutionizing schools, from http://www.thelearningweb.net/kaizen.html
3. Fonsenka, Lal Introduction to Kaizen Philosophy in education:
4. Continuous improvement – Guidelines, from
http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/04/12/fea23. asp
5. Graban, Mark, Kaizen: Creating a Culture of Continuous
Improvement, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/201408241402 02-
81312-kaizen-engaging-everybody-tocreate-a-culture-of-continuous-
improvement

Timothy Wooi
Add: 20C, Taman Bahagia, 06000,
Jitra, Kedah
Email: timothywooi2@gmail.com
H/p: +6019 4514007 (Malaysia)
Speaker’s Profile
• Principal Consultant for Lean & Kaizen Management.
Certified ‘Train the Trainer’ with 35 over years working
experience.
 International Educational Speaker for South East Asian
Institute of Educational Training Inc.(SEAIETI)
An Innovative Engineer that trains MNC on Creativity &
Innovation for Continuous Improvement.
• Founder of Tim’s Waterfuel an alternative fuel supplement
using Water to add power to automobiles.
• Rode 24 Countries, 18,290km, 4 months 11 days, 6 3/4 hours
from Malaysia to London on just a 125 cc.

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