Kaizen Problem Statement

On our Kaizen Charter, we devote quite a bit of space at the top of the form to the problem statement. This should be a good indicator as to the importance we place on it.

A good kaizen problem statement serves two main purposes. The first is that it creates clarity and focus on the project. Making sure that everyone is in agreement on what the issue is goes a long way towards developing a team that works together effectively. And remember, on a kaizen event, you will only have a week to assemble the group and get them operating as a team.

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The second main purpose is to act as a marketing tool. I’m not talking about selling products to customers, though. I’m talking about selling the need for the project to the people you will be asking to support it. Kaizen events pull people and resources from outside of your department. Those people are busy, and the more valuable their skills are to continuous improvement efforts, the more frequently they will be asked to support projects. Your project needs to stand out, and a strong problem statement is a good way to do that.