From Japan to Pakistan, automakers reap the rewards of Kaizen

Kaizen may have been developed by Japanese automakers decades ago, but continuous improvement and Lean practices are still benefitting automakers across the world today. Indus Motor Company, a Pakistan-based car manufacturer that produces automobiles for businesses such as Toyota and Daihatsu, is one of the many companies in the sector making use of Kaizen.

Kaizen initiatives and other activities stem from the adoption of the Quality Control Circle (QCC) approach, which enabled IMC to improve development processes and realize new heights in productivity. Pir Haider Ali Shah, parliamentary secretary for industries, commended IMC for the implementation of QCC and has recommended other companies in the industry view the IMC as model example.

“I have great appreciation for the industry and the investment made and its contribution to national interest,” Ali Shah told The International News.

Ali Shah believes that in order for the Pakistani auto industry to continue to evolve, local car makers will need to continue developing policies – such as QCC – that will help companies be more productive. Rauf Siddiqui, minister of Industries and Commerce, also stated that innovation will be the key to establishing a strong presence of the auto industry in Pakistan.

“Throughout, we were challenged to provide innovative responses and solutions to the economic and social dilemmas facing the country and ensure uninterrupted supplies in the value chain affected by natural calamities at home and abroad,” he told the news source.

“Through Kaizen in our systems, we are offsetting some of the impact of these challenges [such as high inflationary pressures] and that is why we have put so much emphasis on this concept,” he added.

Kaizen and the auto industry

Kaizen has a long-standing presence in the auto industry – it was pioneered by Toyota decades ago. Since then, it has been applied to processes and procedures by car manufacturers across the globe. Even American companies are now using Kaizen, and Lean practices were originally put in place to counteract the inherent advantages of the U.S. auto industry.

If automakers are looking for ways to improve productivity, they should consider integrating Kaizen to help crack down on wasteful processes and procedures.