Gemba and Kaizen Combine Forces to Become Global Management Consulting Powerhouse

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gemba Research and Kaizen Institute join forces to form the longest-running and most geographically diverse lean management consultancy.  "The merger of our two companies allows us to provide our clients with local expertise in all key and developing markets," said Bud H. Cox, President of KICG. "This will enable us to expand smoothly from 25 to over 30 worldwide locations by the end of 2011, as our clients are pulling us into more regions and industry sectors than ever before."

Kaizen is the philosophy and practice of continuous improvement by involving every person within an organization in innovation, creative thinking and practical problem solving. Organizations of all types worldwide have adopted the kaizen philosophy to achieve breakthrough results. Kaizen Institute founder Masaaki Imai, who has studied and taught kaizen for the past three decades explains, "Kaizen is a mindset. Although many lean practitioners have kaizen in their toolbox, those who strive to live it each day are the people who are making a difference in people's lives."

KICG will offer an unparalleled breadth and depth of training and lean consulting services worldwide. Both firms have been helping clients implement kaizen, the Toyota Production System and kaizen-based business strategies for decades. These cultural transformations are achieved through kaizen tours of best-in-class companies, kaizen certification courses, online training in the full suite of lean tools and CI methods, business assessment/diagnostic services, and implementation of lean management systems in service, retail, education, government, banking, transportation, healthcare and manufacturing.

"The approaches, philosophy and values of the two companies are very similar. Over the past year we found ourselves collaborating increasingly in lean transformation projects. We felt the time was right to take the logical next step to merge two operations fully," said Jon Miller, co-founder and CEO of Gemba Research. "It's a great fit and we have hit the ground running as one team."

About Gemba Research

Gemba Research is a global consulting and training firm focused on helping companies implement continuous improvement (CI) cultures based on the Toyota Production System.  Founded in 1998, Gemba brings unique insights into the Lean management philosophy, based on the bilingual and bicultural backgrounds of its Japan-raised founders, Jon Miller and Brad Schmidt. Gemba is recognized worldwide as a thought leader in the fields of kaizen, lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System (TPS).

About Kaizen Institute

Kaizen Institute (KI) is the longest-running consulting firm dedicated to kaizen and lean implementation. The company helps global and local organizations achieve optimum performance through kaizen strategies.  KI was founded in 1985 by Masaaki Imai, one of the original pioneers who brought kaizen, lean thinking and an understanding of Japanese management practices to the West.  His 1986 book, "KAIZEN: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success", was a bestseller and THE milestone in the global spread of Lean practices.

SOURCE Kaizen Institute