改善なきところ革新なし(特論-2,<特集>イノベーションが生まれたルーツを探る)  [in Japanese] No Innovation in no KAIZEN(<Features>Search for the Root Where an Innovation Was Born)  [in Japanese]

Recently it seems that KAIZEN, continuous improvement, has become a synonym for Japanese manufacturing. While KAIZEN has been frequently discussed to contrast with innovation, they are close successively. Innovation has arisen from a constitution where KAIZEN has been normalized. KAIZEN is an intellectual and creative activity with thinking process, such as induction, deduction and abduction. The development of corporate culture that KAIZEN has continued begins from the human development. The human development is to foster the proper technology and proper technique to provide a new value for customers, based on the corporate philosophy. The collaboration between KAIZEN and innovation is important, and then OJT (On the Job Training) contributes to realize their collaboration. OJT is based on communication and teamwork and has proceeded to KAIZEN.