Masaaki Imai
Masaaki Imai | |
---|---|
management consultant | |
Known for | Founding Kaizen Institute |
Spouse | Noriko Imai |
Children | 2 |
Masaaki Imai (今井 正明, Imai Masaaki), 1930–2023, was a Japanese
Life & Work
In 1986, Imai published "Kaizen, The Key to Japan's Competitive Success", which was an instant global bestseller, firmly embedding the word kaizen in the corporate lexicon. It was the first book to introduce the Lean philosophy to the world. His firsthand account is based on his close associations and travels with Shoichiro Toyoda and Taichi Ohno and reveals the secrets behind the success of Toyota and other Japanese companies.
Mr. Imai’s sequel book on this subject, "Gembakaizen: A Commonsense, Low-cost Approach to Management", was published in 1997. This book uses relevant case studies to detail 21 practical kaizen management practices, including methodologies and tools to apply where the real action occurs. The result: greater productivity, quality, and profits achieved with minimal cost and time.
In keeping with his philosophy of never-ending
In November 1998, Masaaki Imai received the Asia-Pacific Human Resource Development. Award in recognition of his immense contribution to business efficiency and productivity through the application of the philosophy of step-by-step improvement. In June 1999, he received the Shingo Research and Professional Research Prize for his book Gembakaizen. In 2010, he was awarded the first Honorary Fellowship of Quality Control in India. Further, in 2019, Masaaki Imai was awarded by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation with "The BrandLaureate Legendary Award".
After retirement, he has been actively engaged in spreading the Toyota Way in Japan and abroad. In 2012, he published a book, “Toyota Production System” (in Japanese only), a collection of some 50 cases of his own consulting. Masaaki Imai’s latest book "Strategic KAIZEN™" was published in 2021 and completed the trilogy of his authoritative work on the kaizen approach.
Kaizen
"KAI" means change, and "ZEN" means for the better, together "Change for the better". Kaizen refers to a philosophy or practices that focus upon
"The starting point for improvement is to recognize the need. This comes from the recognition of a problem. If no problem is recognized, there is no recognition of the need for improvement. Complacency is the archenemy of KAIZEN™." [9]
Awards and Recognitions
- 2019: "The BrandLaureate Legendary Award."
- 2010: “Honorary Fellowship of Quality Control.”
- 1999 “Shingo Research and Professional Publication Prize" for the book Gemba Kaizen
- 1998: “Asia-Pacific Human Resource Development Award.”
Selected publications
- 2021: “Strategic KAIZEN™: Using Flow, Synchronization, and Leveling [FSL™] Assessment to Measure and Strengthen Operational Performance” (McGraw Hill)
- 2012: "Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense Approach to a Continuous Improvement Strategy, 2nd Edition" (McGraw Hill)
- 1997: "Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense, Low-cost Approach to Management" (McGraw Hill)
- 1986: "KAIZEN™: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success" (McGraw Hill)
- 1975: "Never Take Yes for an Answer: An Inside Look at Japanese Business."
References
- ^ Dahan, Ely, and John R. Hauser. "Product development: managing a dispersed process." Handbook of marketing (2002): 179-222.
- ^ Paulk, Mark C. "Practices of high maturity organizations." SEPG Conference. 1999.
- ^ Monden, Yasuhiro, and Kazuki Hamada. "Target costing and kaizen costing in Japanese automobile companies." Japanese Cost Management. Series on Technology Management 4 (2000).