International transfer of kaizen: an empirical study of Japanese manufacturers in the Netherlands

In the past few decades, a number of studies have been published that have identified specific Japanese approaches to management as being superior to other types of approaches (e.g. Toyota Production System). Recently, one of the specific issues that received attention is the concept of kaizen. Kaizen is generally defined as continuous improvement. It has been viewed as a key element in Japanese management and has been presented as one of the sources of the competitiveness of Japanese manufacturers (Imai, 1986: xxix). The transfer of kaizen overseas has been studied as part of studies on international transfer of Japanese management practices as well as in studies on best practices