In the world of business, the Japanese term "kaizen", when literally translated, has a meaning of "incremental improvement", and a kaizen event refers to a problem-solving project that emphasizes continuous change within a marked time frame. Events conducted in this format are often utilized in order to streamline the manufacturing process.

Each event will start out with a plainly delineated objective, such as "to reduce checkout time in a retail setting", or "increase revenue by a specific percentage", as well as a very clearly marked start and end date by which to expect results. Because the resultant specific improvements are noted within these abbreviated time frames, these events are also sometimes known as a "kaizen blitz".

Sometimes it may be necessary for a business to perform a kaizen event without the support of a recognized lean manufacturing team or six sigma program, however, nearly all of the lean manufacturing initiatives will include a kaizen event. Kaizen events have been shown to be a seamless fit with regards to the means by which the lean manufacturing model is implemented. By following the PDCA model (Plan-Do-Check-Act), which is a building block in the tenets of lean manufacturing, kaizen blitz events effectively push inefficiency out of the system and drive productivity and value in.

In addition to the normal way in which to utilize the principles of kaizen, there are some less traditional ways. While Six Sigma is a methodical approach to gradual, continuous improvement, a kaizen event could still do much to jumpstart the improvement process. For example, a typical six sigma approach to a current trouble spot may be to perform an analysis of the current methods and results that need some form of improvement. A kaizen blitz team might bypass this time-consuming statistical analysis by brainstorming simple yet effective ways around the current problem spot.

The kaizen team might then report back to the six sigma team, and with both approaches represented, presumably there would be a marked improvement in the desired area. In this example, by combining the Six Sigma team with the lean manufacturing methods that embody a kaizen event more holistically addresses current areas of inefficiency and better utilizes the principles of lean manufacturing to derive the maximum improvement with the minimal amount of waste.

This hybrid of kaizen, which represents lean manufacturing, and six sigma methods is also known as "lean six sigma". The methodology of lean six sigma demands a significant amount of expertise and training, as two very different types of improvement methodology must fused together with a great amount of mastery, but it behooves the business model to embrace both forms, as the two divergent pieces add up to an incredibly strong problem-solving methodology.

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