Our glossary for guidance - Letter K

Japanese for "radical change".

KAIZEN consists of the Japanese symbol KAI "change" and the symbol ZEN "good" and stands for change for the better. KAIZEN is a synonym for continuous improvement in small steps and is in principle a permanent interpretation of the PDCA cycle.

KAIZEN uses the Seven Tools Q7 for improvement work.

The Kaizen Blitz describes the recording (documenting) of discovered problems or weak points within the process in Gemba-Walk, or the LIA.

Hidden under the KAIZEN umbrella are various tools, methods and management systems which can improve the process through "small steady steps".

Signal, card (Japanese) - serves as a simple order form and for production control by passing on information in regulated kanban circuits.

The Kano model describes a visual matrix that represents delighters, satisfiers and dissatisfiers in relation to the CTQ's of a product in a Cartesian coordinate system, with customer satisfaction on the ordinate and the degree of fulfilment on the abscissa.

Japanese for "meeting emotional customer needs / achieving customer enthusiasm" (compare Kano model).

A distinction is made between "strategic" and "operational" key performance indicators. These key indicators serve the continuous control of processes and the early detection of deviations and changes.

•     Strategic key indicators control effectiveness, e.g. profit, sales growth, profitability,...
•     Operational key indicators control efficiency (process key figures), e.g. throughput times, utilisation rates,...

Konzern In - First Out; consumption sequence procedure mainly occurring in accounting.

Konzern In - Last Out; consumption sequence procedure mainly occurring in accounting.

KISS is a very well-known acronym that can have different meanings. The most common meaning is Keep It Short and Simple.

‘Kit’ means a set of components that are packaged together and intended to be used to perform a specific in vitro diagnostic examination, or a part thereof.

[Definition according to (EU) 2017/746 Article 2 No. 11].

Key performance indicators

Key Process Input Variable.

Key Process Output Variable.

Informal partnership with suppliers based on the 6Rs (part of corporate governance).