Management sets up five teams to oversee implementation of Kaizen

Kaizen, the world-renowned Japanese principle of total quality management, will be used to guide continuous improvement efforts at the Department of Economic Development, officials said.

"[We are acting to support] the vision of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, and to help establish a culture of continuous improvement in both the public and private sector [throu-ghout the UAE]. That is why we have decided to implement the Kaizen programme at the Department of Economic Development [DED]," said Ali Ebrahim, DED deputy director-general of executive affairs.

"The DED is the first government department in the UAE to implement this programme across all its divisions. We hope it will enable our personnel to focus on action-oriented improvement [and further refine our work procedures]," Ebrahim said.

"The DED strongly believes in the concept of continuous improvement. We are on the lookout to constantly enhance and upgrade our systems in order to sustain and develop our image as a customer-oriented department. Improvements, however, don't happen by strategy alone. We are confident the principles of Kaizen will enable us to move from strategy to action," he said.

Following an initial introductory seminar on the principles of Kaizen involving all employees at the Department of Economic Development, the management has set up five teams to oversee the actual implementation of the programme.