Hansei

Hansei is a concept that Toyota uses as a practical improvement tool. Toyota actually conducts Hansei events, like Kaizen events, to improve products and processes. The hansei improvements are fed back into the organization and disseminated. Hansei means to reflect on one’s failings or misdeeds, with the idea that this self-reflection will cleanse the individual and result in self rehabilitation. The individual absolves himself or herself of responsibility for any misbehavior.  Taiichi Ohno said “Check is hansei” when referring to the third step of PDCA.  In fact, Toyota does hansei even when things do go as planned (things go too well); even then they are asking “why?” as if there was something wrong. In fact, there is. At Toyota they say “no problem is a problem”.

 

 

 

 

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