Africa-Press – Botswana. A Japanese philosophy that believes that change is good, Kaizen , has been said to serve as a valuable tool for companies in Botswana that seeks to enhance operations, drive growth and contribute to the country’s economic development.
This was said by the first batch Kaizen project-graduating companies during the Kaizen sharing seminar and announcement of the second Batch Kaizen project held in Gaborone on Wednesday.
The Industrial Engineer at Kalahari Floor Tiles Chemical Division, Ms Obakeng Lesang said Kaizen has embraced continuous improvement principles and empowering different companies to unlock new opportunities for success and prosperity in Botswana’s dynamic business environment.
Ms Lesang pointed out that many companies in Botswana face challenges related to operational inefficiencies such as long lead times, high costs and wasteful processes, therefore highlighted that Kaizen’s focus on continuous improvement has helped companies identify and eliminate inefficiencies, streamline workflows and optimise resources utilisation, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved productivity.
She said they have learnt quality enhancement adding that quality management was essential for companies in Botswana to meet local and international standards and compete effectively in the global marketplace.
Sharing the same sentiments on behalf of Clover Chemical Industries, Mr Sentle Seabe said with Kaizen, they have been able to emphasise the importance of quality improvement at every stage of production of service delivery, saying most companies have been helped to identify and address defects, errors and inconsistencies to enhance the quality of their products and services.
Mr Seabe said they have since been taught Kaizen principles of team effort, focus on small continuous changes, adding that they were able to decrease waste, optimise productivity as well as maintain order at the workplace.
The officer responsible for quality management and productivity improvement for Kaizen project, Mr Hiroshi Takachi said Kaizen focuses on sustainable, long-term improvement as well as allows companies to make meaningful contributions to the communities in which they operate as well as improving their own operations.
Ms Takachi also pointed out that the Botswana business environment was evolving rapidly, with companies facing challenges such as changing consumer preferences, and technological advancement.
He said Kaizen’s emphasis on adaptability and innovation equips companies with the tools to respond effectively to the changes, and at the same time helping companies to stay competitive and resilient.
The training programme was facilitated by the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) in collaboration with the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA).
Earlier on during the welcome remarks, the BNPC Executive Director, Mr Jacob Mmola stressed the importance of collaborations for continuous improvement.
Mr Mmola said with the particular collaboration, companies were able to enhance their competitiveness, drive growth and contribute to sustainable development.
The five companies, Clover Industries, Kalahari Floor Tiles Chemical Division, Neat Solutions, Pulas Botswana and Agrifeed had graduated after enrolling for six months with Kaizen. The second batch of companies for the Kaizen project were also announced.
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