A Japanese word adopted into English referring to a viewpoint or practices focusing on nonstop improvement in manufacturing activities, all business activities, or even all aspects of life, depending on interpretation and usage. When used in the business sense and applied to the workplace, kaizen definition typically refers to activities that continually improve all functions of a business, from manufacturing to management and from the CEO to the assembly line workers. By improving standardized activities and processes, Kaizen aims to eliminate waste. Kaizen was first implemented in several Japanese businesses during the country’s recovery after World War II and has since spread to businesses throughout the world.