Choose the correct meaning of 'Kaizen'.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Change for better or improvement
Option (1) Achieving target at minimum cost — Incorrect. Kaizen does try to remove waste, but its meaning is not “minimum cost”. It is about making things better step by step.
Option (2) Change for new production methods — Incorrect. Kaizen is not only about new production methods. It means small, continuous improvement in any process, system, product or service.
Option (3) Change for better or improvement — Correct. Kaizen is a Japanese word. It means ‘change for better’ or ‘improvement’. It is also called continuous improvement. It is a daily activity that removes waste and makes work easier.
Option (4) Achieving target in minimum time — Incorrect. Saving time can be one result, but it is not the meaning of the word Kaizen.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Kaizen: It is a Japanese word, which means ‘change for better’ or ‘improvement’. It is an approach to improvement of productivity through application of works of American experts such as F.W. Taylor by Japanese after World War II. …” |