Kaizen
The Japanese term for improvement, continuing improvement involving everyone–managers and workers. In manufacturing, kaizen relates to finding and eliminating waste in machinery, labor, or production methods. Also see: ContinuousProcess Improvement

Kaizen Blitz
A rapid improvement of a limited process area, for example, a production cell. Part of the improvement team consists of workers in that area. The objectives are to use innovative thinking to eliminate non-value-added work and to immediately implement the changes within a week or less. Ownership of the improvement by the area work team and the development of the team’s problem-solving skills are additional benefits.

Kanban
‘Japanese word for ”visible record”, loosely translated means card, billboard or sign. Popularized by Toyota Corporation, it uses standard containers or lot sizes to deliver needed parts to assembly line ”just in time” for use.’

KD
see Knocked Down

Keiretsu
‘A form of cooperative relationship among companies in Japan where the companies largely remain legally and economically independent, even though they work closely in various ways such as sole sourcing and financial backing. A member of a keiretsu generally owns a limited amount of stock in other member companies. A keiretsu generally forms around a bank and a trading company but ”distribution” (supply chain) keiretsus exist linking companies from raw material suppliers to retailers.’

Key Custodians
The persons, assigned by the security administrators of trading partners, that send or receive a component of either the master key or exchange key used to encrypt data encryption keys. This control technique involves dual control, with split knowledge that requires two key custodians.

Key Performance Indicator
A measure which is of strategic importance to a company or department. For example, a supply chain flexibility metric is Supplier On-time Delivery Performance which indicates the percentage of orders that are fulfilled on or before the original requested date. Also see: Scorecard

Kitting
Light assembly of components or parts into defined units. Kitting reduces the need to maintain an inventory of pre-built completed products, but increases the time and labor consumed at shipment. Also see: Postponement

Knocked Down
Articles that are partially or totally disassembled to reduce the cubic footage or to ensure safer transportation.

Known Damage
Damage discovered before or at the time a shipment is delivered.

Known Loss
Loss discovered before or at the time a shipment is delivered.

KPI
See Key Performance Indicator