Kaizen (改善), is the Japanese word for “continual improvement”. In business, kaizen refers to activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from the CEO to the assembly line workers. It also applies to processes, such as purchasing and logistics, that cross organizational boundaries into the supply chain. It has been applied in healthcare, psychotherapy, life-coaching, government, banking, and other industries.
By improving standardized programmes and processes, kaizen aims to eliminate waste (see lean manufacturing). Kaizen was first practiced in Japanese businesses after the Second World War, influenced in part by American business and quality-management teachers, and most notably as part of The Toyota Way. It has since spread throughout the world and has been applied to environments outside of business and productivity.
The 1st Kaizen Congress Serbia is therefore going to be held on the 28th and 29th of September in Belgrade in Hotel Zira, with 20 speakers, all of the from their personal practice (Plant manager, Kaizen/Lean manager, Continuous improvement…). The attendees will visit the factories of Tetra Pak and Ametek and will have the opportunity for networking, learning and fun. The speakers will include:
- Bojan Šćepanović
Director, KAIZEN INSTITUT SRBIJA
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Kimmo Jarvinen
Director, KAIZEN INSTITUTE FINLAND
- Svetislav Savić
Development and Engineering Manager, TETRA PAK
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Marko Terzić
Continuous Improvement Manager, MAGNA SEATING
Vladimir Martinenko
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Regional Lean Coordinator, HENKEL SRBIJA
Petar Nikolić
Director Autoguma, MICHELIN
Bojan Kiso
- Director for Continuous Improvement, NIS AD
and many others.