The combination of teamwork, continuous improvement: [1]

HR MANAGER'S BOOKSHELF The combination of teamwork, continuous improvement Kaizen method looks to reshape employee commitment to, and employer understanding of, process improvement Kaizen Desk Reference Standard By Raphael L. Vitalo, Frank Butz and Joseph P. Vitalo 451 pages, Lowrey Press (2003), ISBN 0-9722810-4-5 [phone], www.lowreypress.com

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Continuous improvement, the learning organization, problem-solving teams, process redesign, quality circles many concepts, lots of discussion.

But what's frequently lacking are concrete models or "how to" information on undertaking a significant performance improvement initiative in a real-world organization.

Enter Kaizen.

Kaizen (pronounced kye-ZEN) is the Japanese word for continuous improvement. The authors of the Kaizen Desk Reference Standard use the term to mean "a method that strives toward perfection by eliminating waste (any activity that is not value-adding from the perspective of the customer) . . . by empowering people with tools and a methodology for uncovering improvement opportunities and making change."

This "complete guide for applying Kaizen to continuously improve business results" is a resource to fill that gap. The authors share the methodology they've used in more than 150 interventions internationally in Kaizen events led by trained coordinators drawn from the factory floor and office functions.

This book is not meant to be a quick read; rather it's an indepth guidebook. It describes a complex and disciplined undertaking that requires strong preparation, organizational support, systematic execution and follow-through.

The book defines a Kaizen standard - a systematic,...