1. BASIC KAIZEN TOOLS TARGET PROGRESS REPORT STANDARDIZED WORK SHEET
TIME OBSERVATION SHEET
CYCLE TIME / TAKT TIME BAR CHART
YAMAZUMI (STACK) CHART
STANDARDIZED WORK COMBINATION SHEET
CAPACITY SHEET
KAIZEN PROPOSAL SHEET
KAIZEN NEWSPAPER
With the Basic Kaizen Tools and a stopwatch, anyone can improve any process.

2. Using the Basic Kaizen Tools3 1 2
Pair up 2 for each process.
One times w/ stopwatch, other jots down times.
Find best times.
Verify if Cycle Time meets Takt Time.
Calculate Takt Time.
Identify problems.
Set targets and enter on Target Progress Report
Plan & initiate Kaizen Workshop.
Observe site.
Identify Process.
Prepare Standardized Work Sheet 4 5 6
If equipment seems to lack in capacity, use Capacity Sheet to define problems.
Fill out Standardized Work Combination Sheet with best times.
Note long times on Combination Sheet, there are opportunities for Kaizen.
Continue to observe site, note problems on Kaizen Newspaper
Try out ideas for kaizen immediately, verify results.
Prepare Kaizen Proposal Sheets for effective kaizen ideas.
There is no set order to using the basic kaizen tools, but there is a normal pattern. 7 
Update Kaizen newspaper.
Update Target Progress Report.
Kaizen EVERY DAY!!.

3. TARGET PROGRESS REPORT
Department / Section / Site
Date: ___/____/____/____/__________
Takt Time: _______________________
CATEGORY
CURRENT
TARGET
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
FINAL RESULT
% CHANGE
SPACE (sq. ft.)
INVENTORY
WALKING DISTANCE
MATERIAL TRAVEL DISTANCE
LEAD TIME (sec.)
CYCLE TIME (sec.)
OUTPUT (units / day)
CREW SIZE
PRODUCTIVITY
Quantify current state and target state.
Add relevant categories when necessary.
Write improvements (lowered inventory, shorter walking distance, etc.) in RED INK.
Use the target progress report to report on status of activities at the end of each day and at the presentation at the end of the week-long workshop.
CHANGEOVER TIME (sec.)
REMARKS:

4. STANDARDIZED WORK SHEET
DATE: _____/____/____
Approvals:
Process: __________________________
Part # ____________________________
Part Name: ________________________
Scope of Operation
FROM:
TO:
Use grid to express site to scale accurately and remember to include “real world” aspects such as posts, trash cans, tool boxes, break areas -- whatever is truly in the area.
Do not forget to fill out the “BASIC DATA,” without it Standardized Work cannot be defined.
Try to break up the process into the shortest steps possible.
Each step of the operation sequence must be shown where it is done and given a sequence number. These numbers are identical to those entered in the Standardized Work Combination Sheet in the “Step” column.
Connect the sequence numbers with solid lines that truly express the route traveled by the operator. Do not use arrows. The sequence numbers express the direction of movement.
Do not forget to express the path the operator takes to return to the first step with a dotted line.
SYMBOLS
NOTE: Takt Time, Work Sequence (same as numbers in “Step” column on Combination Sheet), and numbers of Standard Work in Process must be known to define Standardized Work. Identify all safety concerns, points where quality must be verified (go/no-go) and numbers of pieces of standard work in process using the symbols to the right.
Quality
Check
Safety
Precaution
Standard Work
In Process
BASIC
DATA
Total Pcs of Std
Work in Process
Takt
Time
Cycle
Time
Operators
this op/line total
sec.
1 /

5. TIME OBSERVATION SHEET
Page _____ of _____
Date / Time: ___/____/____/_________________:________
Observed by: _____________________________________
Line / Process: __________________________________________________ #
Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Best Time
Observations (changeover time) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Time many cycles to increase accuracy.
“Step” column entries are identical to sequence numbers on Standardized Work Sheet and Standardized Work Combination Sheet.
Partner with another person - one runs stopwatch and calls times for each step while observing the process, the other writes down times on sheet.
Keep stopwatch running, write times called for steps above dotted line. After observation has been completed, subtract to calculate splits for each step and write below dotted line.
Calculate complete times for each cycle observed and enter at bottom of column.
Find best time for each step and enter in “Best Time” column. Total best times and enter in bottom row (“Complete Cycle Time”).
ALWAYS USE THE BEST TIMES FOR CALCULATING CYCLE TIME. DO NOT AVERAGE TIMES. 12 13 14 15
Complete Cycle Time

6. Cycle Time / Takt Time Bar Chart (Blank Chart)
Process
Cycle Time / Takt Time Bar Chart
Cycle Time / Takt Time Bar Chart (Blank Chart)
Print out a hard copy for use in your workshop.
Denote takt time with a horizontal red line across the length of the chart.
Denote the length of the cycle time for each process with a vertical bar over the corresponding process number.
Cycle times that are longer than takt time are candidates for kaizen or re-balancing of tasks.

7. Cycle Time / Takt Time Bar Chart (with Graphing Feature)
Double-click on the graph and use the graph editor to enter the cycle times for each process in the spreadsheet provided.
Quit the graph editor and the bar chart will be generated automatically.
Place the red line at the appropriate height in on the chart to denote takt time. Click after the red “T/T” to enter the takt time value.
Cycle times that are longer than takt time are candidates for kaizen or re-balancing of tasks.
While it is better to hand write the Kaizen tools during activities (for speed and flexibility) this slide is handy for presentations and recording final results.

8. Yamazumi (Stack) Chart (Blank Chart)
Cycle Time
Process
Yamazumi (Stack) Chart
Yamazumi (Stack) Chart (Blank Chart)
Print out a hard copy for use in your workshop.
Denote takt time with a horizontal red line across the length of the chart.
Denote the length of the cycle time for each element of each process with a vertical stack chart over the corresponding process number.
The Yamazumi chart aids in targeting tasks for kaizen in a process that does not meet takt time, and as a last resort for re-balancing (re-assigning) tasks to meet takt time.

9. Yamazumi (Stack) Chart (with Graphing Feature)
T/T
Double-click on the graph and use the graph editor to enter the cycle times for each task of process in the spreadsheet provided. Add more tasks as needed. The graph editor will automatically chose colors and calculate.
Quit the graph editor and the bar chart will be generated automatically.
Place the red line at the appropriate height in on the chart to denote takt time. Click after the red “T/T” to enter the takt time value.
The Yamazumi chart aids in targeting tasks for kaizen in a process that does not meet takt time, and as a last resort for re-balancing (re-assigning) tasks to meet takt time.
While it is better to hand write the Kaizen tools during activities (for speed and flexibility) this slide is handy for presentations and recording final results.

10. STANDARDIZED WORK COMBINATION SHEET
Operator _____ of _____
Line: ____________________________
STANDARDIZED WORK COMBINATION SHEET
Date: ______/______/_______
Quota / Shift: ____________
MANUAL:
AUTO:
WALKING:
Process: _________________________
Section: __________________
Takt Time: ______________ sec.
Step
Description
Time
TIME (unit: 1 sec.)
Man
Auto
Walk 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 1
BE CERTAIN TO SHOW TAKT TIME by drawing a straight, vertical line in RED INK at the appropriate point along the time line.
Try to break up the process into the shortest steps possible.
End each line with a short vertical line.
Don’t forget to connect the end of one step with a the next step using the wavy line when there is walking between steps.
Don’t forget to connect the end of the final step with the beginning of the next cycle, this time going up to the first row, when there is walking to return to begin the cycle again.
If automatic run times (dotted line) run past takt time, finish them by drawing the remainder of the line from the 0 line.
Any long lines are likely to be opportunities for kaizen.
Totals
Waiting

11. CAPACITY SHEET Page ____ of ____
　　New / Revised as of (date): ___/___/___
Authorizations:
Part No.
Line
Current Output
Per Day
pieces
CAPACITY SHEET
Part Name
Max Output
per Day
pieces
Workers
Needed
Step
Description
Machine ID
Base Times
Tools
Capacity
Remarks
Times: Manual
Automatic
Walking
Walking Time
Manual Time
Auto Run Time
Completion Time
Pieces/Run
Change Time
Time/Piece １
Subtotal
NOTE
Update times when improvements are achieved through kaizen, and detail reasons for improvement in “Remarks” column.
Total

12. KAIZEN PROPOSAL SHEET
Location
Objective
Date
Operator
Before
After
Use pictures (sketches, photos, cartoons, etc.) in “Before and “After” boxes. Express proposal visually as much as possible and avoid verbal descriptions.
Quantify “Problem” and “Effects” whenever possible. Examples: “Cycle time is 4 seconds over takt time.” “Standard Work in Process: 3 pcs., should be 1 pc.” “Searching for adhesive: 5 secs.” “5 instances of wrong bolt/hr. observed.”
Problem
Effects (cycle time / inventory / changeover time reduction,poka yoke etc.)

13. KAIZEN NEWSPAPER TEAM: __________________________________
DATE: _______/_______/_______/___________
No.
PROBLEM
WHO
BY WHEN
CHECK
Use pictures (sketches, photos, cartoons, etc.) -- express visually and avoid verbal descriptions.
Post in the area and check for completion deadlines at meeting at beginning of every shift.
Add kaizen proposals as they are offered. The Kaizen Newspaper should change every day.

14. Expiration Date: [1 year from date of issuance]
Kaizen License
[Name of Recipient] 改 善
In recognition of your earnest efforts to learn and practice kaizen during the [XXX] Kaizen Workshop held at [XXX] factory during the week of [Date], you have been granted this license to practice kaizen daily in accordance with the principles of Just in Time, Quality in Station, Production leveling, and Production Preparation.
The Kaizen License is granted to those who have learned and applied kaizen – customarily after participation in a kaizen workshop.Note that it has an expiration date. It is not a certification or qualification, it merely acknowledges that the recipient has made an effort to learn and practice. It is customarily signed by the factory manager, the kaizen promotion leader, and the consultant who guided the workshop.
John Doe
Plant Manager
John Doe
Kaizen Promotion Leader
John Doe
Consultant
Expiration Date: [1 year from date of issuance]