Airport Toyota celebrated the beginning to the Kaizen (Continual Improvement) journey.

In conjunction with Toyota Australia - Airport Toyota have undertaken the task of introducing Kaizen process into daily operations, which extends from New and Used Sales, Service and Parts through to Administration.

Toyota Motor Corporation Australia attended this grand celebration with the attendance of TMCA officials and representatives:

 

 

Mr David Buttner presented Mr. Steve Wallis – Airport Toyota Director -  the Daruma Doll which he accepted on behalf of the staff at Airport Toyota. The Daruma doll is a good luck charm that the recipent paints on eye to signify a wish has been made.

The Airport Toyota journey will see the staff introduce process’s and have the procedures in place to increase efficiency whilst using the customer first philosophy.

 

Kaizen is a simple, Japanese philosophy defined as continuous (kai) improvement (zen) through gradual, systematic change.

It avoids the pitfalls of throwing money at organisational problems by encouraging a thoughtful approach

To make Kaizen work, Airport Toyota must take a birds view of a system and breaks all down into subsystems (the system being the sum of all its parts). By incremental improvements in each sub-system through the elimination of the review of process and assumptions connected with the process and through the identification of problems areas which cause damage or waste and identification of areas that can be tweaked for improvement or eliminated altogether, this leads to incremental improvements in the whole system.

The Kaizen process/method consists of five elements:
These are:
1. Teamwork
2. Personal Discipline
3. Improved Morale
4. Quality Circles
5. Suggestions for Improvements

Through the application of the Kaizen method, waste is eliminated, inefficiency is eliminated and standardisation to maintain the level of quality is created.

When adhered to over a period of time, all these improvements will have a compound effect, producing results that should the push the practitioner ahead in terms of quality compared to others who do not practice Kaizen..

Kaizen when used at Toyota, all people from CEO’s to Janitors can participate in kaizen.
At Toyota, Kaizen usually involves an individual and his/her small group improving their particular area, keeping in mind the whole value chain. So for the group, if they were working at their area and someone suggests a better way of doing things which could improve quality, reduce waste etc, they get the chance to apply it but supervised by a line supervisor whose key role often is to supervise the Kaizen process.

Then the Kaizen methodology is applied which involves making changes and monitoring results, then adjusting. Thus instead of the old model where someone says do this, do this and calls for the overhaul of a system - with Kaizen constant never ending smaller experiments are carried out, results are monitored and if all is well and quality is improved in the system, these experiments become the practice until replaced, as the slow and steady process of Kaizen moves on. Over time, the constant improvements in the system delivers massive results.

 

 

In Japan, the word Daruma is derived from the Sanskrit word, 'dharma' originally referring to Bohdidharma, the founder in 6th century China of the Zen sect of Buddhism.

The shape of the Daruma doll evolved from Bohdidharma who lost the use of his arms and legs after sitting in a meditative state for nine years.

In more recent times, the term Daruma refers to papier mache dolls made in the shape of Bohdidharma practising zazen (posture - legs folded under the body) meditation.

The Daruma figure is a symbol of good luck and protection in Japan.

The eyes are left blank for the owner to paint as a wish is made while the second eye is painted when the wish has been fulfilled.

The figure normally possesses a weighted bottom and rounded shape that will automatically regain its balance after being tipped over, representing persistence of spirit and recovery from misfortune.

It is customary in Japan, for politicians to use the Daruma figure as a good luck charm to wish for a successful result in an election campaign.

It is a common sight in Japan to see the victorious candidate painting in the remaining eye in front of his campaign supporters.

Hand made Daruma papier mache figure with red painted body, white face and blank eyes outlined in gold and orange.

The front of the Daruma features painted gold ellipses and a scrolling decoration.

Phrases in the Japanese script kanji are written on different parts of the figure.