The Lean Pocket Handbook for Kaizen Events

The Lean Pocket Handbook for Kaizen Events is your personal planner for the 21st century.  We have found individuals who engage in reading and practicing the tools in this book become more engaged in the improvement project.  This new version now includes links to the following worksheets: Waste Walk, Waste Audit, 5S Flowchart, Fishbone Analysis, 5 Why Analysis, Brainstorming Flowchart, Continuous Flow Flowchart, Data Check Sheet, Document Tagging Worksheet, Data Collection_Document Tagging Flowchart, Gantt Chart, Data Presentation_Pareto Flowchart, Impact Map, Impact Map Worksheet, Decision Making_Impact Map Flowchart, Just-In-Time Flowchart, Leveling Flowchart, Mapping_Value Stream Flowchart, Failure Prevention Analysis Worksheet, Mistake Proofing Flowchart, Pitch Flowchart, Standard Work Combination Table, Standard Work Chart, Standard Work Flowchart, Storyboard Worksheet, Storyboard Flowchart, Takt Time Flowchart, Visual Controls Flowchart, Work Load Balancing Flowchart, Rapid Improvement Event Preparation Schedule (3 weeks out), Rapid ), Rapid Improvement Event Preparation Schedule (2 weeks to 1 week out), Rapid Improvement Event Scoreboard, and Wiki Kaizen Event Determination Worksheet.


In this revised edition we have included the following:

1. Detailed steps in how to conduct a typical 5 day Kaizen Event, as well as how to initiate individual or Wiki Kaizen Events (provided as Dropbox file links to the Excel worksheets for immediate customization and use)

2. Dropbox file links to over 20 Excel worksheets for immediate application of a continuous improvement initiative

3. Dropbox file links to each of the tools standard flowchart Word

documents for customization

4. Suggestions on how to better lead Kaizen Events through understanding the communication and people problems encountered during a Kaizen Event


An old Chinese proverb states: “You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.” Therefore, use the information in this book to become actively engaged in your Kaizen Event, thereby improving the quality of work and eliminating waste while working with others. Don't go Lean without this!