Kaizen Facilitator Guide

In this module, we will define a Rapid Improvement Event and we will cover the details of a good candidate for an RIE.
We’ll start with a bit of terminology.
In Continuous Improvement circles, there is a lot of terminology and many of these terms are used interchangeably. In addition, some terms that originate in Lean come from Japanese words, which can add another layer of complication.
In this module, we will explain the terminology and the details needed for you to understand What is a Rapid Improvement Event…also known as a Kaizen Event.

Here is your Workbook for this course. Please download and print, make notes and utilize the practices as we progress together.
Good luck!

As far as project moments go, the team selection and kickoff are pretty big ones.
We can’t overstate the importance of selecting the right team and then having an official project kickoff to set the tone and establish rigor and organization going forward.
If the project kickoff is sloppy, missing all kinds of information.. if it causes confusion and anxiety or doubt, the project is going to be an ongoing struggle.
How the rest of your project unfolds will often depend on the clarity, the tone and the expectations that are set here.
If the team selection and kickoff are done right, the rest of the road will be a lot smoother.

The RIE cycle started with Identifying opportunities at least 8 weeks prior to the scheduled Event.
The Team was Selected and the project was formally kicked off at least 6 weeks prior.
Now is the Preparation phase.
We should allow at least 4 weeks for the prep – of course depending upon the complexity and scope of the problem that we are solving.
In this module, we will take you through the RIE Preparation phase.

Welcome to The Rapid Improvement Event.
This is the part of the project where the team gets the chance to set everything else aside and work together to develop, test and implement a solution that will fix the problem.

Welcome to the final step in facilitating a Rapid Improvement Event – the Follow Up phase.
Probably because of the exciting and sexy name, this section is taught in many RIE materials or training as a bit of an afterthought without much emphasis.
However, WE place a big emphasis on this section because it is the key to realizing truly sustainable results.
Without these pieces that we solidify during the follow up, all the hard work that you have done up until now will have very little chance of materializing into meaningful benefits or improvements.