Hoshin Kanri is a Japanese term that is usually referred to as ” policy deployment ” when translated into English. Hoshin Kanri is a system for planning, implementing and monitoring the organization’s strategies and goals. This system was created and developed in Japan, mainly in Japanese car companies such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
Hoshin Kanri consists of several steps that are interconnected and serve to ensure that the organization is focused on key objectives and that these objectives are met in an efficient and coordinated manner. These steps may include:
- Creating the organization’s strategy and goals
- Creating an annual plan and budget to ensure the achievement of these goals
- Dividing goals into smaller sub-goals and assigning these sub-goals to individual departments and workers in the organization
- Checking and monitoring progress towards these goals
- Adapting and updating strategies and plans based on information and experience
Hoshin Kanri is often used as part of a quality management system or as a method to achieve continuous improvement in organizations. Hoshin Kanri makes it possible to coordinate the efforts of different parts of the organization and ensures that every employee in the organization is clear about what the goals of the organization are and what their responsibilities are in achieving them.