Kaizen Blitz Resources Check List 

In order to run a successful kaizen blitz, there are several key resources that you always
need to have in place. “STREETS” is a handy little acronym you can use to remember the
seven key points on my kaizen blitz resources checklist. 

The STREETS check list is as follows:- 

1. Sponsor
2. Team 

3. Room 

4. Equipment 

5. Event Package 

6. Training Materials 

7. Stationery 

As we go through these key resources they may seem blindingly obvious. It is however
surprising the number of people who forget one or more of these basic requirements. Using
the STREETS checklist every time you organise a kaizen blitz will help you to ensure that
everything you need is in place.  

S is for Sponsor 

A Senior Management Sponsor is essential to give your improvement activity some gravitas
and credibility. They should kick off the project on the first day and attend and support the
end of event presentation.

T is for Team 

It may sound a bit funny but you cannot have a kaizen blitz event without a kaizen blitz team.
You need to organise the team well ahead of time to ensure that you can secure the right
people. The best people are usually the busiest and have full schedules. 

R is for Room  

The kaizen blitz team should have a room close to where the action is taking place. Typically
the room should be big enough to comfortably accommodate twice the number of people that
are on the kaizen blitz team. This allows for activities such as Process Mapping and Spaghetti
diagram creation. In most organisations large meeting rooms are at a premium. You need to
book your room well ahead of the event. Not having a room or having to move several times
during the kaizen blitz event must be avoided.

E is for Equipment

Here is a generic list of typical equipment resources that you will need to run a successful
kaizen blitz. This equipment check list can obviously be adapted to suit either an Office or a Manufacturing environment.

• PowerPoint Projector   
• Spare Projector Bulb  
• Laptop   
• Digital camera  
• A4 laminator  
• USB Drives  
• Hole punch  
• 12in Rulers  
• Measuring tape  
• Stop watches/digital timers  
• Batteries  
• Calculators  
• Stapler  
• 3 pin adaptor  
• Extension lead  
• Mobile phone  
• Toolbox of common tools  
• Flip Chart Holder  
• Sets of Coloured Flip Chart Pens  
• Sets of Black Flip Chart Pens  
• Sets of Pencils  
• Set of high lighters  
• Sets of scissors  
• Sets of Biro Pens  
• Sets of Felt tip pens  
• Pencil sharpeners  
• Erasers  
• Re-useable A1 Kaizen Newspaper

E is for Events Package

The events package should include the following information and must be made available in
advance of the actual blitz event. 

• Details of the event Sponsor  
• The scope and objectives of the kaizen event  
• Members of the kaizen team  
• A short description of the area of the business  
• A4 drawing of the current process layout  
• Relevant data captured prior to the event 

T is for Training Materials

Having well organised up to date training material is a must. The following checklist is an
example of some of the items you may chose to include: 

• PowerPoint Training Materials on Laptop  
• Back up of Training Materials on CD  
• Back up master hard copy  
• A1 mind map of all training materials (if technology fails completely)  
• Appropriate copies of all training exercises/ pro forma   
• Pictures/Examples of techniques used  
• Posters/signs for kaizen blitz room wall 

S is for Stationery supplies

A typical checklist of stationery supplies that you should have is as follows:-

• A4 laminator blanks 
• A4 paper  
• A4 wallet files to store project information  
• Red tag labels  
• pro forma red tag log sheet master  
• pro forma cycle time form master  
• pro forma 30 day plan master  
• pro forma results master  
• pro forma situation before/after master  
• Post it notes small 4 colours  
• Post it notes large 4 colours  
• flip chart pads  
• blue tack  
• masking tape  
• rubber bands  
• sticky tape 
• staples  
• small circular adhesive labels in various colours  
• Balls of String, 4 colours 

 Some final thoughts

If you use the STREETS checklist you should be 80% of the way there. 

Other resources that you may want to think about prior to the kaizen blitz are the availability
of support groups. (e.g. Electricians, IT staff, handymen etc).It is also important to ensure
that the people who work in the kaizen project business area are fully engaged and aware of
what is going on, and how they can contribute, prior to, during, and after the kaizen blitz. 

Hope this helps

Graham Ross

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