Kaizen Culture
Changing Your Company Using the Kaizen Blitz Approach to Process Improvement

At DJO, LLC, the Kaizen Blitz is used weekly thoughout the company to drive process improvements in all areas of the business. Blitzes have been conducted multiple times in Product Development, Finance and Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Customer Service, IT, Manufacturing, Logisitics, virtually every functional area of the business. Since 2000, DJO has conducted literally hundreds of formal Kaizen Blitz events to drive continuous improvement across the enterprise. Using this approach, DJO has been recognized with two Top Ten Best Plants as awarded by IndustryWeek, the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing and the Product Development Management Association’s Outstanding Corporate Innovator. The presentation will include highlights of how the Kaizen Blitz approach is used, the results and what has been learned in the process.

DJO, LLC is a global company specializing in musculoskeletal health. Its broad range of over 700 product families include orthopedic bracing products, devices to stimulate bone healing and the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. The company is based in Vista, California, but has manufacturing and distribution sites throughout the world.

Jerry M. Wright, PE, Director, Corporate QA & Operational Excellence

Jerry Wright joined DJO (formerly dj Orthopedics) in 1997 and has held leadership positions in both engineering and operations. Jerry is currently the Director of Corporate QA & Operational Excellence at the company’s headquarters in Vista, California. At DJO, he was one of the key change leaders that helped to introduce lean thinking and transformed the company from a traditional batch and queue manufacturer to a world-class, lean enterprise. In 2005, DJO was honored as one of the IndustryWeek Top Ten Best Plants in North America. The Product Development Management Association (PDMA) awarded DJO the Outstanding Corporate Innovator (OCI) Award in 2005. This year, DJO Vista Operations is a 2006 Shingo Prize Recipient for Excellence in Manufacturing. Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and has his Professional Engineer license from the State of California.