CI013

Greater Cross-Functional Kaizen Events vs. Simpler Scheduling

Business Context. Kaizen events that bring together participants from multiple functions produce more comprehensive improvements, but coordinating schedules across departments makes these events increasingly difficult to organize.

Process TRIZ Resolution. Rather than requiring full participant availability for the entire event duration, organizations should structure Kaizen events into modular sessions, allowing cross-functional participants to join the specific sessions most relevant to their function.

Applicable TRIZ Principles

Principle 1 (Segmentation) structures the Kaizen event into modular sessions rather than one continuous block.

Principle 3 (Local Quality) allows participants to join only the sessions most relevant to their function.

Principle 17 (Another Dimension) runs parallel breakout sessions rather than requiring sequential full-group attendance.

Expected Outcome

Genuine cross-functional input

Simpler scheduling logistics

Higher participant attendance

More comprehensive improvement outcomes

Decision Indicators

Kaizen events are repeatedly postponed due to scheduling conflicts.

Cross-functional participation has declined due to event length.

Events require full-day attendance from participants with limited availability.

No modular structure exists to accommodate partial participation.

Scheduling has become the primary barrier to holding improvement events.

If several of these indicators are present, the contradiction is likely active and the Process TRIZ resolution above should be evaluated.