Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

Kaizen refers to which of the following concepts?

1. Total Quality Management

2. Continuous improvement

3. Employee satisfaction

4. Lean manufacturing

The correct answer is: Continuous improvement

Kaizen, a Japanese term meaning "change for better," embodies the concept of continuous improvement. It is a philosophy that focuses on the ongoing improvement of processes in manufacturing, business management, and other areas through small, incremental changes. The core idea of Kaizen is that by making consistent, minor enhancements, organizations can improve efficiency, quality, and overall performance over time. This approach involves all employees, encouraging them to identify areas for improvement and to contribute ideas for making processes more effective. Employee involvement is a central theme of Kaizen, but the principal focus is on fostering a culture of continuous improvement rather than exclusively on employee satisfaction or any specific management system like Total Quality Management (TQM) or Lean manufacturing. While Kaizen is a component within Lean manufacturing and can support TQM, its primary definition revolves around the commitment to continuous improvement across all aspects of an organization.