The Africa Kaizen Annual Conference took place this year as a hybrid event, under the theme Opportunities to Accelerate Industrialization and Trade in Africa: Streamlining Kaizen/Quality and Productivity Improvement (QPI) with Digital Technologies, Start-ups, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Development, and Home-Grown Economic Activities in Africa. The theme reflected the imperative to address the ongoing negative impacts of COVID-19 and to realise the opportunities presented by the Kaizen approach.

Mr Shinichi Goto, Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, “Once fully operational, the African Continental Free Trade Area will bring great benefits to Africa. I am convinced that it is very important for the AfCTFA to be conducive to private sector and SMES to bring benefits to the continent. Despite the COVID pandemic, African economies have remained resilient. It is projected by the AFDB that the continent will grow by 3.6% in 2022. I must point out that Japan’s growth was brought on largely by SMEs. Today, there is need to deepen quality and productivity. Kaizen is not just a method, but a way to change mindsets to improve productivity.”

In a message delivered on behalf of Hon. Prof. Kitilya Mkumbo, Minister for Industry and Trade in Tanzania Mainland, Mr William Tate Olenasha, Deputy Minister, PMO Investment reiterated that the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference was an important forum for building momentum in changing mindsets and strengthening institutions towards improved productivity and quality.

The highlights of the Kaizen activities undertaken in the last eight months of 2021 were shared by Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.

“Despite the extraordinary pressure of COVID-19, encouraging results were achieved. From the reports of six countries, a total of 831 Managers, 4089 workers, 720 MSMEs, and 100 large Enterprises benefited from the training provided over different digital platforms. In addition, the tangible and intangible achievements demonstrated by those competing for the 2021 Africa Kaizen Awards last week, illustrate the opportunities offered by Kaizen to realize the GDP growth aspirations that we seek as a continent,” said Dr Mayaki.

Dr Mayaki also pointed out that the Kaizen/ Quality and Productivity Improvement approach plays a catalytic role in transforming and enhancing key elements of competitiveness that are critical for Africa to attain its Industrialisation aspirations as envisaged under Agenda 2063.  He emphasised the need for countries to adapt to the current circumstances faced by the continent and address the emerging imperative of job creation through support for the development of the continent’s MSMEs. Dr Mayaki noted further that Kaizen is critical to the realization of productivity goals; enhancing the skills of workers; enhancing decent workspaces; increasing local investments and attracting FDIs.  

“Kaizen quality and productivity also helps to modernize productivity across value chains, fostering competitive industries. It also leads to the explicit improvement of competitiveness and productivity for MSMES towards the realization of real benefits,” Dr Mayaki stated.

Mrs Ron Osman Omar, representative of the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, , at the Africa Union Commission provided introductory remarks at the opening session, stating   that, “The African Union is a supporter of Kaizen and we continue to see benefits across the continent by those countries that have adopted it.”

 “Productivity has always been acknowledged as a key driver for growth […] but challenges need to be addressed. Creating a culture of productivity and changing mindsets is what it is all about,” she added.

The Africa Kaizen Annual Conference is an important platform to deliberate on several issues to improve the performance of Africa Kaizen Initiative activities. The topics selected for this year’s conference will contribute to continental, regional and national industrial policy frameworks in at least in two ways:

First, by highlighting the ways in which Kaizen knowledge, systems and improvement toolkits could enhance the efforts by countries towards the development of home-grown solutions and economic reforms. This could facilitate the uptake and customization of successful lessons and best practices on quality and productivity improvement from elsewhere, within the contexts of Africa.

Second, by discussing key dimensions for Africa’s industrial development including: the role of Quality and Productivity Improvement for regional connectivity and trade promotion; accelerating Manufacturing and Trade within the digital era; standardization and conformity of products/services in Africa; strengthening competitiveness of enterprises in Africa; and the role of stakeholders such as government, financial institutions, regulatory bodies and the private sector.

The Africa Kaizen Awards 2021, have also proven to be a useful platform to promote Kaizen/Quality and Productivity Improvement activities. The awards have helped to motivate countries implementing Kaizen projects, as well as those who are members of the Pan-African Productivity Association, to learn from the experiences of the awardees and improve on their future activities.

The collaboration among AUDA-NEPAD, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of the Union of Tanzania to successfully host the 2021 Africa Kaizen Annual Conference and Awards has built momentum towards effective implementation of the continent’s strategies, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and to achieving Africa’s aspirations for improved quality and productivity over the long term.