2023-04-20 09:04:08
Tunisia is one of the first countries in Africa to have benefited from Jica’s support for the adoption of the “Kaizen” concept in 2006. This project, which aims to improve the quality and productivity of Tunisian industry , is one of the flagship projects of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in Tunisia. After being carried out in Tunisia for more than 10 years, this project is currently opening up new prospects for a triangular Tunisia-Japan-Africa cooperation in the transfer of know-how to other African countries. We interviewed Shuhei Ueno, resident representative of Jica in Tunisia, to learn more regarding the origin of the Kaizen concept, how to apply it in Tunisia and Jica’s initiatives for its dissemination.
What is the “Kaizen” concept, what is its origin and what are its objectives?
“Kaizen” is a Japanese concept that aims to improve productivity through small continuous improvements for the elimination of problems encountered on a daily basis, combined with a progressive optimization of processes, not requiring large investments. This concept aims to improve the productivity and efficiency of teams at work, but also of the company in general. Indeed, Kaizen was created and played a fundamental role in the development of Japan’s manufacturing industry like Toyota, which enabled Japan, a major manufacturing country, to follow a unique pattern of development by supporting the rapid economic growth of the countries in terms of production.
Jica implements projects to improve the quality and productivity of the manufacturing industry in Tunisia by introducing, for example, the 5S-Kaizen approach derived from the Japanese terms “Seiri”, “Seiton”, “Seiso” , “Seiketsu”, and “Shitsuke”. In French translation, these words mean respectively “to sort out”, “to arrange”, “to clean”, “to standardize”, and “to discipline”. This approach emphasizes the effective organization of the physical work environment initially, but gradually, on the functional aspects as well. Which, through the influence of 5S, simplifies the work environment, reduces non-productive activities and waste, while promoting quality performance and safety.
What are the “Kaizen” projects carried out by Jica in Africa and Tunisia?
For years, Jica has been promoting the Africa Kaizen Initiative (AKI) in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (Auda-Nepad) with the aim of strengthening the African private sector through the popularization of Kaizen. With this initiative, more than 25 countries in Africa are carrying out Kaizen dissemination projects with Jica and participating in training on this subject. One of these countries is Tunisia. Jica’s cooperation projects to introduce Kaizen in Tunisia began in 2006, making Tunisia one of the first countries in Africa to benefit from Jica’s support. The most recent project in Tunisia was completed in December 2021. The last phase of this project enabled the strengthening of the capacities of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy as well as the various technical centers in the dissemination of Kaizen.
Thus, 23 master trainers, 24 advanced trainers and 16 basic trainers from technical centers were trained in Kaizen by Japanese experts from Jica. The objective was to build a core of Tunisian experts capable of taking over and continuing to disseminate the Kaizen concept to Tunisian companies.
In your opinion, what are the real impacts of the Kaizen concept on companies?
Through Kaizen projects in Tunisia, we have already succeeded in improving, by an average of between 60 and 80%, productivity in around a hundred pilot companies in the electromechanical, chemical and textile sectors, thanks to the intervention of Japanese experts and Tunisian master trainers trained under this project.
The application of the Kaizen concept in Tunisia has been illustrated by its excellence, even at the African level. The Tunisian company “Phoenix Mecano Elcom”, specializing in the manufacture and assembly of electromechanical components, won the “African Kaizen Prize” for the year 2022, which distinguishes the best companies at African level in the implementation place of the Kaizen concept. Other Tunisian companies were also distinguished during the 2020 and 2021 editions, by this same “African Kaizen Prize”.
We heard regarding a new Kaizen project in the field of health, what regarding this experience?
In recent years, Kaizen projects are no longer limited to the manufacturing industry, but also extend to the field of health and public services. Jica supports the introduction of Kaizen in hospitals in more than 20 African countries.
To date, nearly 500 medical institutions in these countries have adopted Kaizen, which has enabled them to reduce infections and improve the efficiency of healthcare workers in healthcare facilities.
Tunisian public hospitals face a constant shortage of health personnel and equipment, which makes it difficult for all citizens to access quality care. To address these issues, the Tunisian government has developed the National Health Policy for 2030 with the objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage and strengthening the functions of public hospitals. In this context, the Abderrahmane Mami hospital in Ariana experimented with the concept of Kaizen, among other things, with the collaboration of the National Authority for Evaluation and Accreditation in Health (Ineas), which allowed to obtain very encouraging results in terms of quality and productivity.
Jica has decided to send Japanese experts to support this initiative and extend it to other hospitals. They will start training activities for some target hospitals with the Ministry of Health this spring.
Does Tunisia share its Kaizen experience with neighboring countries?
Thanks to Jica’s support, Tunisia is on the way to becoming a center for the dissemination of this Japanese concept to other African countries, in particular through training on the Kaizen concept that Tunisian master trainers have provided to eight experts from French-speaking African countries as well as Libyan entrepreneurs and civil servants.
Indeed, as part of the last phase of the Kaizen project in Tunisia, the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy provided training in Kaizen in September 2019 for the benefit of participants from 5 African countries. (Algeria, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo). Also, in 2021 and 2022, Tunisian master trainers provided training for the benefit of around 60 Libyan companies, in collaboration with Jica, the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
What are your prospects for the future?
Jica will continue to deepen and popularize the Kaizen concept in order to establish competitive and dynamic private sectors in Africa. In Tunisia, we are in discussions with the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines for a next phase of the Kaizen project. Jica contributes to the development of the Tunisian private sector, whether for micro-enterprises, small or large companies as well as for other sectors. We also hope that Japan and Tunisia will continue to work together to help other African countries through the Kaizen concept.
1682037757
#Shuhei #Ueno #resident #representative #Japan #International #Cooperation #Agency #Jica #Tunisia #Presse #Kaizen #concept #opens #perspectives #triangular #cooperation
