Focused improvement (Kobetsu Kaizen)

Written by

Abin Antony

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Focused Improvement or Kobetsu Kaizen is one of the pillars in TPM. TPM is an approach that helps to cut losses of machine operations. And it also helps to achieve perfect production in a manufacturing facility.

Another name of Kobetsu Kaizen is KK Pillar.

In other words, the implementation of KK Pillar helps to get rid of the losses. There by increasing the efficiency of machinery in a manufacturing facility.

Key takeaways from this article

1. What is KK pillar or Focused Improvement?
2. Brief about TPM
3. Classification of losses
4. Why KK pillar
5. How to choose a machine for the KK pillar
6. Tools used for KK pillar implementation

What is Focused improvement

Focused improvement is a concept in which improvement projects are selected based on scope for improvement. Projects are selected where there is largest scope, on priority basics.

Our ultimate aim of focused improvement is to improve OEE.

To improve OEE we need to initially identify the reasons which cause the losses.

After identification of the reasons which cause the losses, the reason which leads to largest loss is taken up for improvement projects on priority. After improving first one, take second and so on.

There are 16 losses that result in the reduction of OEE. We target these losses on priority basics as explained above. Please refer following sections of the article to know more about these 16 losses.

Focused improvement comprises following activities;

• Identifying issues (16 loses)
• Prioritizing tasks (this is a very important activity in focused improvement)
• Eliminating the problems.

Interesting right?

Read on to learn more !

Why Kobetsu Kaizen called as Focused improvement?

TPM originated in Japan in 1971, so all the terms were in Japanese. Kobetsu Kaizen means Focused improvement in Japanese.

Kobetsu is written as below in Japanese.

個別

And the word meaning is ‘Individual’

Which emphasis the importance of targeting individual losses, which contribute to major losses. This will result in quick results. In other words, we focus on individual losses, hence the name focused improvement.

By this portion of the article, you should have got an idea of Kobetsu Kaizen.

Kobetsu Kaizen and TPM

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) was developed by Seiichi Nakajima in Japan between the 1950s and 1970s. There are 8 pillars in Total Productive Maintenance. TPM helps to reach perfect production by attaining below three points.

• Zero breakdowns
• Zero defects
• Zero accidents

The above three is achieved by the following 8 activities, commonly called as 8 pillars.

Which all are the 8 Pillars of TPM?