On April 8, the Sixth Kaizan Case Study Presentation Program was held at the Daicel Group Kanzaki Plant in Hyogo Prefecture. This gathering was organized to address the theme of “Awareness, Thinking and Action - The History of Safety and Improvement Leading to a Better Tomorrow -”. Including PPC, taking part were eight plants and research centers from the Daicel Group, with presentations aimed at discussing kaizen activities being advanced in the specific districts. The key aim was to raise the level of such activities going forward.
Presenting from Polyplastics was the Polymer Group from the Production Department (PBT/LCP), recently honored with the Grand Prize for Excellence at the Polyplastics Kaizen Case Study Presentation Conference in February. The Production Department Compound Group, which came away with an Excellence Award at that same conference, took part in the poster session (newly added from this year).
The presentations of all eight teams clearly outlined the intense approaches adopted in improvement activities, as well as the processes of collaborating with colleagues that have led to resolution of themes faced. Besides the outstanding contents, the attitudes devoted to these presentations richly demonstrated the fruits of the practice conducted up to then. In the question-and-answer sessions that followed, comments from executives reflected the high expectations for development of such activities across the entire Group. The presentations clearly conveyed how such individual initiatives richly fuse the efforts of everyone involved, impressing upon the audience just how much the kaizen activities advanced at each plant and research center help fuel growth for the Group as a whole.
There were certain moments in this program that generated particular pride in being part of Polyplastics. These were comments delivered during the talks by Daicel Group representatives to the effect, “We utilized the activities at Polyplastics as the model for winning acceptance for the pointing and calling method,” or, “We gained valuable hints from an effort explained by a Polyplastics team at the previous gathering concerning paper bags used to hold products at plants – namely, a change from paying a recycling operator to take the bags away to selling the same bags to such a company for cash.” These sentiments were marvelous embodiments of the true objective of such kaizen presentation sessions – namely, “Moving forward with shared perspectives (awareness) to visualize Group-wide issues, leading to redoubled improvements.” There was a strong sense of the desire for everyone to take great pride in such day-to-day activities and efforts.
Following the enthusiastic presentation program, a friendly get-together was held. With the conclusion of the awards ceremony, it was obvious that presenters felt liberated from the sense of pressure and tension up to then. Along with the presentations, the week also featured interaction between employees who traveled from their respective plants and research centers, tours of the Kanzaki Plant and other activities. In this way, the successful Daicel Group Kaizen Week came to a close in a festive atmosphere of great pride and enthusiasm.
Ms. Maiko Omura