Africa Kaizen Conference 2025 Champions Digital-Driven Industrialisation

As the 2025 Africa Kaizen Annual Conference (AKAC) unfolds in Boksburg, Gauteng, experts, policymakers, and productivity leaders are making a strong case for leveraging the Kaizen philosophy to drive Africa's industrialisation through regional value chains, productivity enhancement, and digital transformation.

Held under the theme "African Industrialisation through Fostering Competitive Firms and Value Chains on the Continent", the conference has brought together key players from across the continent, including representatives of National Productivity Organisations, the National Quality and Productivity Network (NQPN), and Kaizen Institutions from over 10 African countries.

Manufacturing Sector: Marginal Growth Sparks Call for New Measures

Dr Tebogo Makube, Acting Deputy Director-General for Sectors at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), opened a major panel by acknowledging a slight uptick in South Africa's manufacturing sector, which has seen its contribution to the economy rise from 11–12% to around 12–13%. While this represents moderate progress, Makube stressed that substantial improvements in quality, productivity, and technology adoption are urgently needed to shift the needle further.

"We are seeing encouraging signs, especially in areas like the electric vehicle programme. But we need to scale up efforts to boost competitiveness through targeted interventions like Kaizen and digital innovation," he said.

Kaizen: A Model for African Transformation

The Kaizen philosophy, rooted in Japanese industrial tradition, advocates for continuous improvement through small, incremental changes. It emphasizes participation at all levels of an organisation to drive quality, eliminate waste, and raise productivity.

Kaizen has become particularly relevant in the African context where countries are seeking cost-effective, scalable strategies to stimulate industrial growth, improve efficiencies, and create sustainable employment. In South Africa, Kaizen is being integrated into:

• The Black Industrialists Programme

• Supplier development in the automotive sector

• Sectors with high export potential such as agro-processing, plastics, and textiles

Makube also pointed out that Kaizen can be instrumental in supporting supplier integration into Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) value chains, thereby strengthening local manufacturing ecosystems.

"Through Kaizen, suppliers improve the quality of their output, gain customer trust, and become more resilient in global markets — this is vital for brand survival," he explained.

Digital Transformation and Innovation in the Spotlight

Esther Marie Renee, Head of Human Capital Development at Burkina Faso's Ministry of Economy and Finances, highlighted the centrality of the digital economy in modernising African manufacturing. She noted that digital tools are crucial for:

• Tracking productivity improvements from Kaizen

• Enhancing evidence-based policymaking

• Driving cost reductions, waste elimination, and operational efficiency

Her views were echoed by Dr Vinaye Ancharaz, Executive Director of Mauritius' National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC). He emphasized that artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing, when used alongside Kaizen, could be transformative.

"AI is not just the future — it's now. When paired with Kaizen, it brings precision, adaptability, and deeper insight into operations," Ancharaz said.

Confronting Global Disruptions and Building Resilience

Delegates didn't shy away from the challenges facing African industries. Geopolitical tensions, high tariffs, and global supply chain disruptions have hurt many businesses, leading to closures and job losses. In this environment, Kaizen is being framed as a strategy for resilience and localisation.

In South Africa, it aligns with the objectives of the Automotive Master Plan, which seeks to transform the sector by boosting local production, promoting the inclusion of black industrialists, and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"Kaizen is not just about efficiency — it's about economic transformation. It's how we empower local producers to meet global standards and participate meaningfully in value chains," noted one delegate from the SA auto sector.

A Continental Movement Towards Productivity and Collaboration

The Africa Kaizen Annual Conference, first launched in 2017 by the African Union Development Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is now the flagship platform for the Africa Kaizen Initiative (AKI). This year's edition builds on years of progress, highlighting the growing Quality and Productivity Improvement (QPI) movement.

By combining African wisdom, grassroots experience, and international support, AKAC provides a space for mutual learning and pan-African collaboration.

National Awards to Honour Excellence in Productivity

As the conference concludes, anticipation is building for the South African National Productivity Awards, hosted by Productivity SA. The awards will celebrate:

• Organisations that have excelled in Kaizen implementation

• Productivity practitioners who have championed efficiency and innovation

• Initiatives that have yielded measurable socio-economic impact

These recognitions are expected to inspire further adoption of Kaizen methodologies across industries and regions, driving Africa toward a more competitive, inclusive, and digitally advanced industrial future.