NSF Funded Kaizen Event Research Project [the broken link was removed]
First, this research seeks to identify the most important factors influencing successful outcomes (both technical and social)…The second objective investigates the sustainability of Kaizen events over time.
The research team has visited numerous organizations utilizing Kaizen events across
multiple areas. Leaders in some organizations acknowledge that some areas will quickly (within 6 months to one year) revert back to the pre-Kaizen performance levels. Yet other organizations appear successful in sustaining results, even improving them further over time. Thus, this research will seek to identify the most important factors influencing sustainability of outcomes.
The research team has visited numerous organizations utilizing Kaizen events across
multiple areas. Leaders in some organizations acknowledge that some areas will quickly (within 6 months to one year) revert back to the pre-Kaizen performance levels. Yet other organizations appear successful in sustaining results, even improving them further over time. Thus, this research will seek to identify the most important factors influencing sustainability of outcomes.
There is an opportunity to have your organization studied – see the article for contact details. Companies involved in textile manufacturing, food processing, or other continuous manufacturing process industries are of special interest.
The NSF Innovation and Organizational Change (IOC) program supports scientific research directed at advancing understanding of how individuals, groups and/or institutional arrangements contribute to functioning, effectiveness and innovation in organizations.
How do I get $188k in federal grants to study such things??
Apply to the National Science Foundation. 🙂
“Universities or colleges, including two- and four-year colleges and community colleges, acting on behalf of their faculty members may submit proposals. Non-profit organizations in the US that are directly associated with educational or research activities, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations, may submit proposals. The NSF encourages proposals for collaboration with international researchers, for-profit corporations, and national laboratories.” They don’t have the details for applying next year but they probably will by this fall (probably due next (Feb).
There actually is good stuff on management supported by NSF. I am biased, George Box and my father founded the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. See many of the reports the Center has published reports by George Box (note at the bottom of the cover pages they site NSF support).
I know you probably were not serious but it would be great if we got more lean management improvement research by leading thinkers like Box. Also the Center will publish reports. If someone has some good research to publish I encourage you to submit it to the Center (Dr. Deming, Brian Joiner, Peter R. Scholtes, Kaoru Ishikawa, F. Timothy Fuller, William A. Golomski, Ronald D. Snee and Roger Hoerl are among those who have published through the Center.