The Kaizen method has landed in logistics to revolutionise the dynamics of work in companies and thus ensure the continuous and progressive improvement of daily activities. A report by Adecco Outsourcing analysed the level of productivity, which it quantified at 54.40 points the average efficiency of companies in 2023.
In today's ever-changing business environment, brands are looking to improve their processes to remain competitive in the marketplace, which has resulted in building an unwavering internal relationship to meet the challenges of the logistics sector.
What is the philosophy behind the Kaizen method?
This business management strategy is based on making changes to daily tasks to meet long-term objectives. It is a method of managing the quality of work to eliminate inefficiencies or errors that affect project performance and supply chain routines.
The term Kaizen is composed of two words of Japanese origin: kai (change) and zen (better). Both translations refer to 'continuous improvement'. Moreover, this system proposes a constant search for perfection.
In order to improve the working dynamics, it is necessary to review all the operations and the steps involved. Once this analysis has been carried out, it will become clear where the possibilities for improvement lie. Once this has been done and all the sectors have been redesigned, the only thing left to do is to apply the corresponding changes and, finally, to evaluate the adjustments made and shape the new methodology.
The Kaizen method is very useful in the logistics sector due to the constant changes that occur in short periods of time.
The five "S's" of the Kaizen method
This system can be conceived as a new strategy to achieve an optimal organisation that reduces - or eliminates - unproductive times and gradually builds a better production line.
This is where the five "S's" of the Kaizen method come into play, as each represents a step to follow:
- SeiriDistinguishing the necessary from the unnecessary.
- Seiton: Sort the information obtained in the previous phase in order to have a complete picture of the procedure.
- Seiso: Identify what is wrong or could be improved.
- Seiketsu: Choose certain tools to be used to correct the errors that arose in the previous phase.
- Shitsuke: Once the changes to be made have been identified, in this last phase, companies must make a commitment to continue with the implementation of improvement through this method, in order to make it a habit.
Ultimately, 5S aims to improve productivity, quality of goods or services and efficiency.
How does the Kaizen method apply to logistics?
This methodology can be applied to multiple fields such as logistics, where organisation and time is the bread and butter of this industry.
Time has a structural value in the Kaizen philosophy. For many, it is the only resource that can never be recovered, which is why it is also the most precious commodity. For example, a delay at customs, even a small one, can mean a day's delay in the final delivery of goods.
In this case, the Kaizen system is not about providing a global solution that gets deliveries to us in record time and when we want them. Rather, the idea is to be aware of the process and the difficulties involved. From then on, proposing small changes that progressively achieve minimal improvements will be much easier, achieving a noticeable reduction in the time spent on certain operations.
The time factor is crucial, but it is not the only thing that affects the smooth running of logistics; there are also supply chains and customers, who are also part of the day-to-day running of companies. On certain occasions, it is even good to involve them in the direction the business is taking. Often the opinions of the users themselves provide the necessary changes in a company.
Alongside this, organisation is an imperative in the supply chain. Order in the workspace is essential to meet the standards of readiness in the supply chain. picking and prevent anything from getting lost along the way.
Therefore, the application of the Kaizen method in logistics operators generates significant benefits including operational efficiency, productivity improvement, cost reduction and the assumption of a conscious work culture. In this way, companies achieve optimal logistics performance and adapt to changing market demands.
At Inside Logistics we focus on continuous improvement in our operations, which allows us to identify inefficiencies and work on the quality of the service we provide to our customers, in order to achieve a solid reputation in the market.
