How do you leverage the knowledge and experience of external kaizen experts or consultants?

2 When to hire external kaizen experts or consultants?

There is no definitive answer to when you should hire external kaizen experts or consultants, as it depends on your specific needs, goals, and circumstances. However, some common scenarios where you may benefit from their services include when you are new to kaizen and need guidance, face complex or challenging problems, want to learn new or advanced concepts, require an objective and impartial perspective on your performance, need to boost the motivation of your team members, or want to accelerate the pace or scale of your efforts. Ultimately, external kaizen experts or consultants can provide specialized skills, knowledge, tools, best practices, support, recognition, feedback, expertise, resources, and networks to enhance your kaizen capabilities and results.

3 How to hire external kaizen experts or consultants?

When hiring external kaizen experts or consultants, it is important to take the time to carefully consider and prepare for the decision. You should define your kaizen objectives, scope, and criteria to ensure you are choosing the right partner that meets your expectations, needs, and budget. Research and compare potential candidates by using various sources such as referrals, testimonials, online platforms, directories, or publications. Narrow down your list by comparing services, fees, availability, or reputation. Then hold interviews with shortlisted candidates to assess their fit with your organization, culture, and goals. Ask them about their kaizen approach, methodology, tools, experience, references, or success stories. Lastly, evaluate their responses and select the best fit for your kaizen project or program.

4 How to work with external kaizen experts or consultants?

Working with external kaizen experts or consultants is a collaborative and interactive process that requires clear communication, mutual trust, and constant feedback. To ensure a positive and productive kaizen culture, you should establish a good relationship and alignment with your external kaizen partner. This means setting clear expectations and roles, such as the scope, objectives, deliverables, timeline, budget, and responsibilities of your kaizen project or program. Regular communication is also important; use various channels and formats to share information, updates, questions, feedback, or concerns. Additionally, involve and engage your internal and external stakeholders in your kaizen project or program to solicit their input or feedback. Finally, take advantage of the knowledge of your external kaizen partner by asking questions or seeking advice. You should also evaluate and reflect on your kaizen project or program to identify the lessons learned.

5 How to sustain the benefits of external kaizen experts or consultants?

Working with external kaizen experts or consultants can bring you many benefits for your kaizen project or program. However, these benefits may not last long if you do not sustain them after the completion of your kaizen project or program. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you maintain and enhance the results and impacts of your kaizen project or program by embedding them into your organization's culture and systems. To do this, you should document and share your kaizen results and impacts with stakeholders and audiences, monitor and measure the performance and outcomes of your kaizen project or program, continuously improve your kaizen processes and practices, and maintain and expand your kaizen culture and network. By doing these things, you can ensure that the benefits of external kaizen experts or consultants are sustained.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?