Kaizen emphasizes which approach to quality management?

• A. One-off large-scale transformation
• B. Continuous improvement through ongoing small changes
• C. Only top management intervention
• D. Relying solely on automation

Answer: (B)

Kaizen is about continuous improvement through ongoing small changes driven by people at all levels. The idea is that tiny, incremental tweaks to daily processes, made consistently, add up to big gains in quality and efficiency over time. This approach usually follows the PDCA cycle—plan a small improvement, try it, check the results, and standardize what works—so improvements become part of normal operations rather than a one-off project. It isn’t about a single large transformation, it isn’t driven only by top management, and it isn’t about automation alone; it relies on people noticing waste or defects and making small, practical adjustments that accumulate.