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Human resources quality improvement from the perspective of Kaizen practices

Author

Listed:
  • Minh Nguyen Dat

    (Ph.D., Faculty of Industrial and Energy Management, Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam)

  • Quyen Nguyen Thi Hanh

    (Msc, Center for Vietnam Science and Technology Internationalization Promotion, Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam)

Abstract

Kaizen has long been known as an improvement philosophy that starts with small frequent changes to make larger changes in production. These changes come from the ideas and creative thinking of employees to ensure that the production conditions and processes are continuously improved. However, Kaizen not only helps motivate employees to think creatively with effective methods and skills, but it also helps them develop their capabilities, personality, and good work habits. The purpose of this paper is to show a new approach to human resources quality improvement through the Kaizen philosophy as a sustainable and active strategy to improve work performance. With analytical research on the relationship between Kaizen implementation, human resources quality improvement, and production efficiency and exploratory research on particular cases in manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam, the authors point out changes in production efficiency and human capacity before and after implementing improvement (Kaizen) projects. The paper finds significant changes of employee capability (Kaizen practitioners) after evaluating the human resource development process on the basis of six indicators of two groups (namely capacity development, personality development) and a set of criteria using a 5-point scale. In addition, the paper proposes a PDCA based framework with 12 contents corresponding to stages of the human resource development. This paper extends theories related to Lean Manufacturing or Kaizen, highlighting how philosophy of Kaizen has hard and soft impacts on the improvement of performance and human resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Minh Nguyen Dat & Quyen Nguyen Thi Hanh, 2022. "Human resources quality improvement from the perspective of Kaizen practices," Management, Sciendo, vol. 26(1), pages 144-163, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:manmen:v:26:y:2022:i:1:p:144-163:n:1
    DOI: 10.2478/manment-2019-0088
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laoucine Kerbache & Manuel F. Suárez-Barraza & Juan Ramis-Pujol, 2011. "Thoughts on kaizen and its evolution: Three different perspectives and guiding principles," Post-Print hal-00796340, HAL.
    2. Glover, Wiljeana J. & Farris, Jennifer A. & Van Aken, Eileen M. & Doolen, Toni L., 2011. "Critical success factors for the sustainability of Kaizen event human resource outcomes: An empirical study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(2), pages 197-213, August.
    3. Farris, Jennifer A. & Van Aken, Eileen M. & Doolen, Toni L. & Worley, June, 2009. "Critical success factors for human resource outcomes in Kaizen events: An empirical study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 42-65, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kaizen Practices; Human factors; Human resources quality; Operational performance; Lean manufacturing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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