The SME Foundation assisted 51 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 267 entrepreneurs to improve productivity and implement a Japanese philosophy on product quality improvement, known as ‘Kaizen.’
The foundation also encouraged SMEs, saying that there was no alternative to improving competitiveness, and that they had to do so by accelerating product quality and cumulative overall productivity.
SME Foundation revealed this during a virtual workshop titled “Productivity in SMEs” on Wednesday to encourage the entrepreneurs to implement Kaizen.
According to the SME Foundation, Kaizen is a universal technique for improving productivity and the term Kaizen is derived from the combination of two Japanese words KAI (meaning change) and ZEN (meaning good) meaning 'change for good.'
Moreover, it is a practice that focuses on continuous improvement of any activity at zero or minimum cost.
Experts at the event said that Kaizen can be followed in all fields including industry, commerce, banking, health care, administration, and daily life.
The implementation of Kaizen can enhance productivity, improve the work environment, and prevent wastage significantly, they also said.
Globally, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are recognized as the driving force of the economy of any country.
But, nowadays, they are facing steep obstacles amid globalization and free market economy, which has become more pronounced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the SME Foundation is implementing various activities including awareness creation, skill development, and Kaizen application to improve the productivity of the MSMEs sector of the country, the experts mentioned at the event.
In this regard, the SME Foundation already has provided technical support to 51 MSMEs and training to 267 entrepreneurs across the country under its “Kaizen in SMEs” program.
The experts further said that the program was a set of activities which were being implemented through eight steps.
These steps include awareness development activities, organization selection and confirmation, productivity monitoring, and formulation of the Kaizen pilot project.
The activities also include skill development training, project implementation and monitoring, preparation of the final reports, and incentive activities.
Workshop participants consisted of 86 entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and representatives from various sectors, including agriculture and food processing, light engineering, plastics, leather and leather goods, electrical and electronics, readymade garments, and handicrafts, jute and jute products.
Muhammad Mesbahul Alam, director general of the National Productivity Organization (NPO) was the chief guest on the occasion.
Prof AKM Masood, head of the department of IPE, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), and Mohammad Abul Bashar, senior technical demonstrator of ILET, University of Dhaka, were present as panellists.
Muhammad Arifuzzaman, senior research officer of the NPO, presented the keynote at the event.
Md Mafizur Rahman, managing director of the SME Foundation, presided over the event.