Lean Tools: Learning More About Hoshin Kanri

Hoshin Kanri is a process used in strategic planning in which goals are communicated throughout the company and then put into action. This method of strategic planning originated from post-war Japan, but has since spread to the U.S. and around the world. Translated from Japanese, Hoshin Kanri means “compass management.” The individual words “hoshin” and “kanri” mean direction and administration.

It requires a strategic vision in order to succeed. From there, strategic objectives need to be defined, with goals being written for a year-long time frame. Leadership needs to avoid picking too many goals in order to stay focused on what is important. The biggest goals then need to be broken down into smaller goals, on a weekly and monthly basis, and then implemented so that everyone, from management to the factory floor, is in agreement on what needs to be accomplished.

The goals should be reviewed on a monthly basis, with a larger annual review at the end of the year. Performance measurement is also a key part of the process. Hoshin Kanri is a top-down approach, with the goals being mandated by management and the implementation being performed by employees.

Systems need to be in place to ensure that objectives from senior management are effectively communicated all the way down the chain of command. A catchball system is often used in order to aid in the execution of the strategic plan. A catchball system seeks to get opinions of both managers and employees through meetings and interactions in order to ensure the bidirectional flow of goals, feedback, and other information throughout the organization.

Organizations that use Hoshin Kanri often follow a Think, Plan, Implement, and Review process, which is comparable to W. Edwards Deming’s Plan Do Check Act cycle.’ This is because Deming played a role in the spreading of quality control principles that influenced the development of Hoshin Kanri.

Learn more about Hoshin Kanri and download a template