The Kaizen paradox

When facing challenges within an organisation, it’s natural to look for the quickest fix for the best price.

This often means making small, incremental improvements instead of investing in larger enhancements. While this approach may seem like the best way to solve problems with minimal impact to day-to-day activities, a new report from Swisslog says it’s unlikely to pay off in the long-term.

In a recent real-world example, a company was seeking to identify a solution for an automated ‘goods-to-person’ warehouse in a bid to achieve a significantly higher level of business performance. However, a year earlier the company had invested in a mechanized ‘zone–to-zone order picking’ solution, consisting of conveyers and carton storage shelving.

“Senior management could see that the solution wasn't going to meet their long-term requirements,” said Swisslog’s Head of Sales in the UK, Shane Faulkner. “Fortunately, the mechanised solution didn’t occupy the entire warehouse, making it possible to build an automated goods-to-person solution on the same site.”