Which term describes a radical change in lean improvements?

Which term describes a radical change in lean improvements?

• A. Kaikaku
• B. Kaizen
• C. Jidoka
• D. VSM

Answer: (A)

Radical changes in lean improvements are described by Kaikaku. This term refers to a breakthrough redesign of a process or value stream to achieve large performance gains that can’t be reached through small, incremental tweaks. It often involves new technology, a different layout, or a fundamental change in how work is done, aimed at a substantial leap in productivity, quality, or lead time. This contrasts with Kaizen, which focuses on continuous, incremental improvements through many small steps. Jidoka is about building quality into the process—stopping to fix defects when they occur—rather than changing the overall process flow. Value Stream Mapping is a diagnostic tool used to visualize and analyze the flow of materials and information, helping identify waste, but it isn’t itself a description of the scale of change.

Radical changes in lean improvements are described by Kaikaku. This term refers to a breakthrough redesign of a process or value stream to achieve large performance gains that can’t be reached through small, incremental tweaks. It often involves new technology, a different layout, or a fundamental change in how work is done, aimed at a substantial leap in productivity, quality, or lead time.

This contrasts with Kaizen, which focuses on continuous, incremental improvements through many small steps. Jidoka is about building quality into the process—stopping to fix defects when they occur—rather than changing the overall process flow. Value Stream Mapping is a diagnostic tool used to visualize and analyze the flow of materials and information, helping identify waste, but it isn’t itself a description of the scale of change.