Ebène, 26 January 2018: The Model
Companies project, an initiative of the Japan Productivity Centre (JPC)
implemented along with the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council
(NPCC) has culminated with a seminar on Friday 26 January 2018 on the theme
“Japanese Kaizen concept for productivity improvement in Mauritian companies”
at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Balaclava.
The Japanese experts were engaged in the application of Kaizen and
lean management techniques and conducting training for middle managers and
supervisors of the Model Companies. The three local companies that were selected
under this project are Axess, Scomat and Rey & Lenferna.
The three companies were invited in the seminar to showcase the
positive transformation that they have experienced with the guidance and
training of the JPC and the NPCC.
The purpose of the workshop was to share the achievements and
experiences of the three companies. These companies have successfully embedded
the 5S and Kaizen philosophy.
According to Mr. Dev Appalswamy, Officer In Charge of the NPCC, in one
of the companies, customer waiting time reduced by 56% and productivity
improved by 40% with an enhanced layout while in another company, there has
been a reduction in rework amounting to savings of about Rs 300,000 per month
as well as space optimization in its different department.
“In Japan and across the world, employers are adopting KAIZEN by
building a culture where all employees are actively engaged in suggesting and
implementing improvements to the company. While other companies seem to appear sluggish
in their operations, implementing Kaizen can somehow revitalize one’s operations
because of the companywide involvement of its employees towards continuous
improvement,” Mr. Yoshiharu Kato, ambassador of Japan in Mauritius.
It is to be recalled that the first roundtable conference for the promotion
of productivity in Africa was organised by the Asian Productivity Organisation
(APO), under the aegis of the Pan African Productivity Association (PAPA), in
South Africa in August 2006. As from the following year, the APO and the JPC
have been working together with PAPA with funding from the government of Japan
on a Productivity Partnership Programme and focussing on the sharing of
experiences.
Japan and Mauritius have enjoyed cordial relations since 1969.
Mauritius considers Japan as a reliable friend, and a development partner. The
NPCChas been a recipient of Japanese expertise, since 2006, under the Technical
Cooperation Project on Productivity Improvement to African Nations.