We help leaders to achieve dreams of performance improvement and build a sustainable KAIZEN™ Culture

We transfer our expertise and skills to deliver two digit results year-over-year

Our Mission

Improving the World with
Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day -
The KAIZEN™ Way

KAIZEN™ means "Change for the Better"

What is KAIZEN™

KAI = CHANGE

ZEN = FOR THE BETTER

Our Brand Promise

Authentic

We introduced the KAIZEN™ methodology to the world in 1985

Practical

We make our clients experts in their Gemba

Holistic

Our methods touch everyone in the organization, working for the same goal and sharing the same KAIZEN™

methods touch everyone in the organisation

helping the world's leading organisation

Worldwide

Our expertise, from helping the world's leading organizations, can be applied to any situation

Company History

The history of Kaizen Institute began in the mid 80's. We have the longest history of consulting and training organizations around the world, specifically in the fields of KAIZEN™, Lean Management and Continuous Improvement.

First KAIZEN™ (Gemba) Tour in Japan organized by Masaaki Imai.

1981

Kaizen Institute, Ltd., a privately held corporation, is founded by Masaaki Imai and registered in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland.

1985

"Kaizen: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success" book is published by Random House Inc.

1986

Kaizen Institute is first registered within the Americas, doing business as Kaizen Institute of America in California, USA.

1987

Kaizen Institute New Zealand is formed and registered in Auckland, New Zealand.

1988

Kaizen Institute America Inc. is incorporated in Delaware, USA.

1990

Kaizen Institute UK is formed and registered in London, England.

Kaizen Institute of Japan, Inc. is founded and registered in Japan as Kabushiki Kaisha KAIZEN™ Kenkyusho.

Kaizen Teaching AG is formed and registered in Zug, Switzerland.

1991

Kaizen Institute Germany is formed and registered in Frankfurt, Germany.

Kaizen Institute France is formed and registered in Paris, France.

1993

Trademark, “GEMBAKAIZEN™”, is filed with US Intellectual Property Office.

1994

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 10th year anniversary.

Kaizen Teaching AG moves from Zug to Altendorf, Switzerland and forms the Regional Office of Kaizen Institute for European Operations.

1995

Kaizen Institute Spain is formed and registered in Barcelona, Spain.

1996

"Gemba Kaizen" book is published by McGraw Hill; now publisher of the book "Kaizen, The Key to Japan's Competitive Success".

1997

Kaizen Institute AG is restructured and moves offices from Baar to Zug, Switzerland.

1998

Kaizen Institute Portugal is formed and registered in Porto, Portugal.

1999

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 15th year anniversary.

Kaizen Institute India is formed and registered in Chennai, India.

2000

Kaizen Institute Italy is formed and registered in Bologna, Italy.

Kaizen Institute's Global Operations based in Zug, Switzerland is launched, with Global Support Units and Regional Support Units.

2003

New business unit development strategy is implemented expanding the global network.

Kaizen Institute Romania is formed and registered in Bucharest, Romania.

Kaizen Institute Czech Republic is formed and registered in Prague, Czech Republic.

Kaizen Institute Hungary is formed and registered in Budapest, Hungary.

Kaizen Institute Mexico is formed and registered in Mexico City, Mexico.

Kaizen Institute Poland is formed and registered in Wroclaw, Poland.

Kaizen Institute’s first Annual Awards Event (AAE) is held at Euro-Disney in Paris, France.

2004

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 20th year anniversary

Kaizen Institute Africa is formed and registered in Mauritius, to serve the region.

Kaizen Institute Brazil is formed and registered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Kaizen Institute AG and Kaizen Teaching AG combine both their offices and domicile, and centralize operations in Zug, Switzerland.

Kaizen Institute’s 2nd Annual Awards Event is held in Zug, Switzerland.

2005

Kaizen Institute establishes a legal presence and entity in Hong Kong.

Kaizen Institute’s Management System is conceived and jointly developed by a global coalition of top Kaizen Institute consultants and support team.

Kaizen Institute’s 3rd Annual Awards Event is held in Scottsdale, AZ, USA.

2006

Kaizen Teaching AG is renamed and the legal vision of Kaizen Institute Consulting Group (KICG) is realized.

Kaizen Institute’s 4th Annual Awards Event is held on the island/country of Mauritius, Africa.

2007

Kaizen Institute China is formed and registered in Shanghai, China.

Kaizen Institute Russia is formed and registered in Moscow, Russia.

Kaizen Institute Consulting Group establishes its first Regional Support Unit in Scottsdale, USA for support of operations within the Americas.

Kaizen Institute’s 5th Annual Awards Event is held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

2008

Kaizen Institute Austria is formed and registered in Salzburg, Austria.

Kaizen Institute Malaysia is formed and registered in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Kaizen Institute Canada is formed and registered in Ottawa, Canada.

Kaizen Institute’s 6th Annual Awards Event is held in Venice, Italy.

2009

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Kaizen Institute’s 7th Annual Awards Event is held in Algarve, Portugal.

2010

Kaizen Institute Netherlands is formed and registered in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

Gemba Research and their global group of companies join forces with Kaizen Institute’s global footprint.

Kaizen Institute’s 8th Annual Awards Event is held in Auckland, New Zealand.

2011

Kaizen Institute Chile is formed and registered in Santiago de Chile, Chile.

Kaizen Institute’s 9th Annual Awards Event is held in Porto, Portugal.

2012

Kaizen Institute Finland is formed and registered in Helsinki, Finland.

Kaizen Institute’s 10th Annual Awards Event is held in Seattle, WA, USA.

2013

Kaizen Institute Colombia is formed and registered in Bogotá, Colombia.

Kaizen Institute's Global Support Unit structure is improved via four divisions; Business Development, Quality Assurance, Brand Management and Corporate Administration.

Kaizen Institute’s 11th Annual Awards Event is held in Jaipur, India.

2014

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Kaizen Institute Turkey is formed and registered in Istanbul, Turkey.

Kaizen Institute UAE is formed and registered in Dubai, UAE.

Kaizen Institute's Regional Support Unit operation is re-launched based on new legal and operational structures.

Deployment of an improved corporate logo and other enhanced brand standards.

KAFCIA (KAIZEN™ Association for Continuous Improvement Awareness) is established in Switzerland.

Kaizen Institute’s 12th Annual Awards Event is held in Bad Homburg, Germany.

2015

Kaizen Institute Online is formed and registred in Lynnwood, Washington.

Kaizen Institute’s 13th Annual Awards Event is held in Calgary, Canada.

2016

Kaizen Institute Ukraine is formed and registered in Kiev, Ukraine.

Kaizen Institute Canada (British Columbia) is formed and registered in Vancouver, Canada.

Kaizen Institute Georgia is formed and registered in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Kaizen Institute Tunisia is formed and registered in Tunis, Tunisia.

Kaizen Institute Morocco is formed and registered in Casablanca, Morocco.

Kaizen Institute Croatia is formed and registered in Zagreb, Croatia.

Kaizen Institute South Africa is formed and registered in Rustenburg, South Africa.

Kaizen Institute Thailand is formed and registered in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kaizen Institute’s 14th Annual Awards Event is held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Kaizen Institute's new website is developed and launched.

2017

Kaizen Institute Norway is formed and registered in Lysaker, Norway.

Kaizen Institute America (New York) is formed and registered in Buffalo, USA.

Kaizen Global Enterprises (KGED) is established in Dubai, UAE, as Kaizen Institute’s global holding and parent licensor for worldwide operations. KGED acquires all Swiss holdings and global operating units.

Kaizen Institute’s 15th Annual Awards Event is held in Cancun, Mexico.

2018

Kaizen Institute Singapore is formed and registered in Singapore.

Kaizen Institute Consulting Group is merged into Kaizen Institute, Ltd. (KIAG), establishing KIAG as the global licensor for all of Kaizen Institute’s worldwide licensing and support operations.

Kaizen Institute’s 16th Annual Awards Event is held in Krakow, Poland.

2019

Kaizen Institute Latvia is formed and registered in Riga, Latvia.

Kaizen Institute’s 17th Annual Awards Event is held virtually.

Kaizen Institute celebrates its 35th year anniversary.

2020

Strategic KAIZEN™ book is published by McGraw Hill.

KAFCIA is established in the DMCC of Dubai, UAE and acquires the KAFCIA AG operations in Switzerland.

KAIZEN™ Foundation is established in the DIFC of Dubai, UAE.

Deployment of an improved corporate logo and other enhanced brand standards.

Kaizen Institute’s 18th Annual Awards Event is held virtually.

2021