Outline of the Project

Project Title

The project on capacity development for kaizen implementation for quality and productivity improvement and competitiveness enhancement

Project Background

Since the quality and productivity improvement approach known as KAZIEN was initially introduced in Ethiopia with the establishment of the KAIZEN Unit and commencement of the Quality and Productivity Improvement Project supported by JICA in 2009, KAIZEN has been not only improving the performance of piloted manufacturing enterprises in Ethiopia but also making considerable impacts on their quality and productivity under a strong initiative by the Government of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia KAIZEN Institute, EKI, since its establishment in 2011 by upgrading KAIZEN Unit to a permanent organization, has rapidly expanded its size to around 100 staff and been playing strong and visionary leadership of top management in EKI. Government of Japan and JICA are supporting EKI through the implementation of the Project for the Capacity Building of Dissemination of Quality and Productivity Improvement.

Implementation of these First and Second phased projects has convinced Government of Ethiopia that KAIZEN brings about improved quality and productivity in Ethiopian industries as well as behavioral changes in workers involved and that KAIZEN dissemination has a particular affinity for economic and social policies. Based on this conviction, Government of Ethiopia officially requested another project to Government of Japan. Furthermore, it is expected that KAIZEN would be highlighted as one of the pillars for the improvement of quality, productivity and competitiveness of Ethiopian industries in the next five-year national plan, Growth and Transformation Plan II.

In 2013, Government of Japan announced the launch of a TICAD Human Resource Development Centre for Business and Industry, one of the assistance packages committed at the Fifth Tokyo international Conference on African Development, TICAD V. Ethiopia was nominated in January 2014 as the country where the Centre should be first launched. EKI will expand its activity and be launched as the Centre.

Project Period

June 26, 2015-June 25, 2020

Implementation Organizations

Ethiopian KAIZEN Institute

Overall Goal

Quality and productivity in targeted industries are improved, leading to an enhancement of industrial competitiveness in Ethiopia

Project Purpose

KAIZEN practitioners are developed in both private and public through the kaizen dissemination system led by EKI

Outputs

1. EKI's (Including its regional network) management capacity in KAIZEN dissemination is enhanced through the accumulation and standardization of best practices.
2. EKI becomes able to provide advanced level KAIZEN training and consultancy services to private and public sectors.
3. A coordinated system (Vertical and Horizontal) is put in place whereby quality of KAIZEN training and consultancy services provided by EKI and other institutions is ensured and KAIZEN dissemination is promoted at national level.

Inputs

1. Dispatch of Experts: Chief advisor; Institution development; Quality and productivity development; System development; Advisors to academic institutions; Activity coordination
2. Training
   Counterpart training in Japan/third countries
3. Equipment
   Minibus, etc.

Implementation Budget

JPY 670 mil.