In past articles, you’ve heard us refer to the Japanese principle of Kaizen. This is usually translated as the process of continuous improvement.
Strictly speaking, Kaizen refers to continuous improvement on a personal level. When applied to a company or organization, it is known as Kairyo.
Changes everywhere
Kairyo is a principle we’ve followed at Blue Grotto since the property changed owners nearly ten years ago. At the time, this seemed to be a common-sense approach to management. It was only later that we realized doing so was a textbook example of Kairyo.
If you are a regular visitor to the Grotto, you know that we are constantly looking for ways to improve things. Our new floating dock was just the most recent example. Other examples include our solar panel array, our bank of Tesla Powerwalls and improvements to the grounds and dive center.
We plan even more changes for the future. Our goal is to make the Grotto as safe, convenient and enjoyable as possible.
Beyond this, our staff is constantly working to improve themselves. Most dive, and those who do are continuously climbing the certification ladder.
Investing for the long term
Much of the money we invest in Blue Grotto will take years or even decades before it pays for itself. This, too, is a very Japanese approach to business. It’s why companies such as Toyota and Honda are healthy and profitable, and why they enjoy a stellar reputation for quality and reliability.
In contrast, the pitfalls of thinking solely about short-term profitability are painfully evident when looking at many USA automakers. Brands such as Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Plymouth no longer exist. Ford has stopped production of all passenger cars other than the Mustang. Hummer and other brands have been sold to the Chinese.
Recently, Consumer Reports published a list of the top ten makes and models for long-term reliability. Nine of these spots were occupied by Toyota and Honda or their subsidiaries Acura and Lexus. This comes as no surprise to those familiar with the auto industry.
What did come as a surprise to many was that the number one spot on this list did not belong to Toyota or Honda. It wasn’t even a Japanese automaker.
According to Consumer Reports, the most reliable vehicle is a Ford F-150 with a normally aspirated V8 engine. This shows that we in the USA are as capable of producing reliable vehicles as the Japanese are. We just have to want to.
In the meantime, feel free to think of Blue Grotto as the Toyota, Honda or F-150 of dive sites. After all, what they strive for is what we strive for.