The Kaizen method in increasing productivity in manufacturing companies: Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Currently, companies focus on maintaining and increasing their competitiveness, efficiency and profitability, but all this is achieved through productivity. This is why it is necessary to use tools and methods that can optimize the efficient use of resources. One of these tools is the Kaizen method which fosters a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization. A fundamental aspect of the Kaizen methodology is the identification and elimination of waste in processes. Reducing waste leads to more efficient utilization of resources such as time, materials and labor, which in turn improves the overall productivity of the company. Additionally, Kaizen optimizes operational efficiency by focusing on process standardization, eliminating bottlenecks, and implementing incremental improvements. In order to carry out an RSL on the implementation of this methodology, it was observed that the sources found in the period 2017-2023 on the application of the Kaizen methodology cover different sectors of manufacturing companies, however, there are no sources of Systematic Literature Review (RSL) that gather the information together. Therefore, through this scientific article we hope to group and organize all this information, so that it is useful for other researchers.