ADDIS ABABA – Ever since its implementation about a decade ago, the Kaizen philosophy has helped in knowledge transfer, encouraging creativity, developing team spirit, and increasing quality production as well as reducing wastage, said Ethiopian Kaizen Institute.
Mekonen Yaei, Ethiopian Kaizen Institute Director General told The Ethiopian Herald that Kaizen philosophy has been playing significant role to reduce wastage and ensure bumper productivity in a sustainable manner.
According to the Director General, the philosophy was introduced in Africa through Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. In this regard, Tunisia and Egypt are the two leading countries which accepted the philosophy in Africa while Ethiopia accepted the philosophy later ten years ago.
Before starting the philosophy, the institute was conducting research on ways to implement Kaizen amid the country’s working culture. Later on, it was possible to practice Kaizen in Ethiopia and registered measurable outcome especially in the manufacturing sector.
Currently, the institute has 120 Kaizen consultants; out of this, 70 of them are middle level that would enable to utilize modern technology and techniques so as to reduce challenges in the productivity process through scientific analysis.
On the other hand, the Japanese government has given grant aid to Ethiopia, an amount of 800 million Birr to build African Center of Kaizen excellence.
The Institute targets on creating conducive environment that would integrate the Ethiopian economy with neighboring countries, Mekonen added.
Refisa Abdisa Head of Pre-Programs and Kaizen Coordinator at Horizon Addis Tire Factory on his part said that Kaizen philosophy has manifold significance for protecting product wastage and knowledge transformation.
According to Refisa, the Tire factory was established four decades ago but it was challenged by wastage in the production process. Therefore, the management body met together and discussed on how to solve the problem, and then they decide that Kaizen is the best alternative approach for factory’s sustainability.
“The factory has kicked off the philosophy in 2019 and it could able to register substantial outcome. In this respect, the factory was able to save 2.5 million Birr from property disposal which were remained scattered and provides no function.’’
According to Refisa, the factory has also obtained 2.8 million Birr from selling fragmented metals which was not functional in the factory for long time.
With regard to reducing wasteful products, the factory could succeed from 0.79 to 0.55 percent. Thus, he believed that the Kaizen philosophy has been playing pivotal role in Ethiopia’s growth trajectory.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 22/2020
BY MESERET BEHAILU
