Africa Kaizen Annual Conference 2025

Africa is striving towards a dynamic industrial, globally competitive economy, characterised by economic transformation, inclusive growth and development, decent employment and equity, built on the full potential of all citizens.

Firm competitiveness is a key to realize it, and that can be promoted by quality and productivity improvement (QPI) or Kaizen, based on a participatory and inclusive approach.

African Industrialization through fostering competitive firms and value chains on the continent.

The two-day event will feature a hybrid program of in-person event at a conference hall with online broadcast, and onsite programs before and after the hybrid programs.

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Rationale of the Quality and Productivity Improvement Network

South Africa is now part of the continental QPI network. Four years of periodic Kaizen consultation in 2016-2020 made labour productivity more than double, lead time less than half, and almost eliminated work-in-progress in 8 pilot companies.

To this end the SA government has been promoting QPI/Kaizen through the National Quality and Productivity Network (NQPN) formulated by various QPI related organizations in the country in 2023. NQPN and JICA are providing QPI training since 2023.

The QPI project supports the automotive value chain and other sectors in South Africa through promoting localisation, competitiveness, and transformation. The four-month Basic Kaizen training that took place in 2023 and 2024 improved the productivity of the 48 participating companies by an average of 58.1 percent.

Digital Kaizen training accelerates digital data collection in SMMEs. Furthermore, QPI (Kaizen) promotion will improve the firm capability and economic competitiveness of companies in South Africa.

Meantime, percentage of manufacturing sector in GDP of South Africa was 21.0 in 1994 and 12.9 in 2023. To change this trend, massive acceleration of QPI activities such as national campaign promoted by the dtic and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) is indispensable to make upward trend of manufacturing and automotive localization.

Benefits of Joining the AKAC2025

The two days conference consists of a day for policymakers and administrators and another for practitioners and companies.

Showcasing Competitiveness

Showcasing competitiveness of South African manufacturing and companies to the participating countries in Africa, international organizations and global market.

Promoting Learning

Promoting mutual learning of the QPI activities and their promotion programs among African countries in order to accelerate AKI implementation in general and South Africa in particular.

Encouraging Participation

Encouraging South African companies to participate in QPI activities for their competitiveness.

Conferring Awards

Conferring awards to the best performers and winners of AKA2025 competition.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Date

27-28 October 2025

09h00 (SAST)

Venue

Birchwood Hotel
Boksburg
South Africa

Online

Conference Day 1, Day 2, and Award Event

In-person (subject to confirmation based on capacity)

Conference Day 1, Day 2, Factory Visit, Award Event, and Exhibition

Organisers

Aims of the AKAC2025

Leaders and Practitioners

To bring together leaders and practitioners of Kaizen Institutions and National Productivity Organizations, to comprehend the achievement of AKI and its actions, and to share knowhow and lessons learned from QPI/Kaizen activities to strengthen the business competitiveness in Africa.

Convey Key Messages

To convey key messages to African heads of states, policy makers, and leaders of regional institutions on the progress and achievements of QPI/Kaizen movement and future plan, and call for their continued support for Kaizen dissemination and National productivity Organizations.

Recognise Performance

To recognize best performing companies on QPI/Kaizen activities in Africa in the last two years and encourage all practitioners to accelerate their tireless efforts.