Kaizen in Kaizen Sessions

At Kaizen Institute, we firmly believe that we must practice what we preach. That is why we regularly hold internal Kaizen in Kaizen sessions — recurring internal workshops where our teams apply KAIZEN™ principles to our own operations.

These sessions are designed to reinforce planning, continuous learning, team building, and, above all, to live the culture of continuous improvement that we promote externally.

In this context, James Stevenson, Principal of Kaizen Institute UK & Ireland, joined the most recent Kaizen in Kaizen session with the French team to exchange experiences, reflect on shared challenges, and explore opportunities for growth. Stevenson shares: “Participating in Kaizen in Kaizen in France has been an enriching experience. Sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and understanding the unique realities of other teams not only strengthens our alignment but also fuels our growth with a true spirit of continuous improvement.”

What is Kaizen in Kaizen?

Kaizen in Kaizen is a recurring internal practice through which we apply KAIZEN™ methodology to ourselves as an organisation. These sessions serve as a structured opportunity to practice what we advise: strategic planning, process improvement, skills development, problem solving, standardisation, and more.

More than just the tools, however, these sessions provide a space to strengthen team cohesion, align priorities, share learnings and foster a common mindset. They are practical, action-focused, and designed to embed real improvement.

A Strong and Shared Organisational Culture

One of the core aims of Kaizen in Kaizen is to align all teams and countries around a shared business culture, rooted in open communication, transparency, continuous improvement and visual management. Through the exchange of experiences and standardisation of best practices, we build a more cohesive, agile and change-ready organisation.

This alignment is only possible when we balance unity and diversity — seeking excellence through common standards while respecting each country’s local reality.

Daily KAIZEN™ as Cultural Transformation

We also reinforce the importance of the Daily KAIZEN™ Programme, a key mechanism for embedding continuous improvement at every level. This programme helps transform natural teams from reactive, overburdened groups into proactive, structured, and engaged teams. It drives cultural change by promoting ownership, discipline, and collaboration across all areas.

The programme follows a clear roadmap of capability-building sprints, which include daily management through team meetings and visual boards to monitor KPIs and address issues quickly, as well as standardisation using tools like 5S, Standard Work, Gemba Walks, and Kamishibai. It also involves training and coaching through Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata, and promotes advanced problem-solving using tools such as A3 reports, quality matrices, and digital platforms.

The Role of Visual Management

Visual boards are a critical component of the Daily KAIZEN™ approach. Whether physical or digital, they enable teams to see real-time performance, identify deviations, prioritise actions, and maintain an active PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) cycle. Effective visual boards help teams answer five essential questions: Are we winning or losing? How is the metric trending over time? What actions are we taking today? What are the recurring root causes? and How can we eliminate systemic issues?

In addition, they support teamwork, facilitate onboarding through visual work instructions, and contribute to the development of strong workplace relationships.

Fostering a KAIZEN™ Culture from Within

Kaizen in Kaizen allows us to experience and strengthen the very culture we promote externally. These regular sessions help us improve our own processes, challenge ourselves, and ensure that we remain consistent and authentic in our mission.

By applying our own methodology internally — in a disciplined, recurring way — we not only improve our performance but also reinforce a genuine KAIZEN™ culture: one that is lived, not just taught.

Through this ongoing practice, we continue to build a stronger, more connected organisation, ready to lead transformation globally — from the inside out.