Book excerpt: The Practical, How-to Guide to Succeeding with Kaizen Programs and Events Today manufacturers need kaizen’s continuous productivity improvement and waste reduction techniques more than ever. Kaizen and Kaizen Event Implementation provides specific, detailed solutions that have proven successful in real manufacturing environments. Ortiz, author of the best-selling Lessons from a Lean Consultant, covers every element of a successful kaizen program and offers techniques for implementing several key kaizen events. Drawing on his unsurpassed, in-the-trenches experience, he shares powerful insights into changing cultures, gaining management buy-in, training, reporting, follow-up, and much more. Whether you’re a plant manager, director, engineer, or quality specialist, this book will help you make kaizen work. Avoid common implementation mistakes Find the right champion and establish an effective steering committee Create timelines, select teams and leaders, and define objectives Use kaizen events to implement 5S, standard work, Kanban, and new line designs Includes a chapter-length case study from a real manufacturing firm