As a pre-learning material for JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs
Kaizen workshop in the course.
From January 21st to February 17th, 2024, we performed a course of JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, “Business Development Services for Enterprise Competitiveness (Advanced Kaizen) (A)”.
In addition to overall support services (Business Development Services (BDS)) which are performed and provided to develop small and medium enterprises and improve their competitiveness, this course aimed to strengthen especially services related to Kaizen.
We used the JICA-Net multimedia-based learning material “An Overview of Kaizen, its Introduction and Dissemination” (YouTube, external link) as a pre-learning material for the course.
“Kaizen” that matches the needs of developing countries
Kaizen refers to the system of knowledge and activities used to review and improve the quality and productivity of work in production sites in the manufacturing industry.
As one of the main driving forces of Japan’s high economic growth, Kaizen has generated positive changes in many production sites. Today, it is recognized around the world.
Because the special characteristics of Kaizen such as “Very economical”, “Highly universal”, and “Methods are established” match the needs of developing countries, Kaizen becomes an effective way to advance companies in developing countries toward a high-level stage.
In the first half, the material explains the Kaizen outline, the practical methods and procedures, and the development of human resources. In the second half, it introduces especially Kaizen’s concrete examples in Africa implemented by JICA technical cooperation.
Kaizen, which was developed in the production sites of the manufacturing industry in Japan, is recognized around the world today.
All participants can start the course with common knowledge thanks to the material
Participants from different countries and backgrounds learned together in the course.
10 participants from 9 countries participated in the course. Countries from all over the world participated: Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Central and South America, and each of them belonged to different organizations such as central ministry and agency, administration department of industrial park, entrepreneurs support organization, or private companies. Their knowledge of Kaizen and backgrounds were varied.
Because there was a large difference in Kaizen knowledge and experience between them, we allowed participants to view the material by sharing the URL before visiting Japan for the course to ensure the acquisition of the minimum necessary knowledge.
Because of this, we were able to begin the course with no significant knowledge gap and performed the course efficiently within a limited term.
I found JICA-Net Library by searching on the web. If there is a material related to the course content of KCCP, the big advantage of using the JICA-Net multimedia-based learning materials is to enable participants to start the course with common knowledge by watching the material in advance.
In addition, participants can watch the material repeatedly if there is a part that they do not understand and it result in effective learning by understanding an outline and questions in advance.
I would like to implement effective course by using various materials regardless of the field in the future.
Closing ceremony of the course
HORIKOSHI Kyoko
JICA Chubu
*The Material(s) mainly applied
An Overview of Kaizen, its Introduction and Dissemination
"Kaizen" is a method developed and evolved at Japanese manufacturing factory sites for improvement of quality and productivity. This video material introduces and explains: (1) an overview of Kaizen, (2) dissemination of Kaizen, (3) Kaizen-related human resource development, and (4) specific cases of Kaizen in Africa and other countries.
JICA made "Kaizen Handbook" in 2018 for the purpose of dissemination of Kaizen. Along with the structure of the Handbook, this video material explains an overview and specific cases of Kaizen in order to enhance understanding and utilizing of Kaizen. This video material is expected to be utilized by organizations/companies which are interested in Kaizen as well as JICA projects and training programs.
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