tl;dr: A small, employee-led kaizen at a Toyota plant–a simple hook added to hold a tour guide’s bag–illustrates how Toyota encourages continuous improvement without requiring ROI for every idea. By approving most suggestions, letting employees implement changes, and focusing on participation over payoff, Toyota builds capability, engagement, and a sustainable kaizen culture where small improvements add up over time. We just finished our second day of our Kaizen Institute Japan Lean Tour and it’s been … Continue reading Our Toyota Tour Guide’s Small Improvement: Kaizen in Action