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Small Prints, Big Wins: How 3D Printing Powers Our Kaizen Improvements

  • 5 hours ago
  • 3 min read

If you've ever wished for a faster, easier, or smarter way to get something done at work, you've already been thinking in the spirit of Kaizen.


Kaizen pictogram

What is Kaizen anyway?


Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that simply means "continuous improvement." But don't let the simplicity fool you; it's powerful. Instead of waiting for massive overhauls or expensive upgrades, Kaizen focuses on making small, consistent changes that add up to big results over time.

Think:

  • Fixing a minor annoyance in your workflow

  • Shaving seconds off a repetitive task

  • Making tools easier or safer to use

Individually, these might seem small. Together, they transform how work gets done. And that's where 3D printing comes in.


Why 3D Printing + Kaizen = Magic


3D printing lets us take ideas from "this is annoying" to "problem solved." No long lead times, no expensive tooling, just quick iteration and real-world testing. It's basically Kaizen's best friend.

  • Got a problem? Design a fix

  • Need a tweak? Reprint and improve

  • Want to experiment? Go for it


Here are a few of our Kaizen-inspired 3D print wins:


  1. Organization That Makes Sense


nitrile glove box holder dry eraser marker/eraser holder Kanban card holders


If you've ever wasted time looking for something, you know how quickly disorganization adds up. We ran into a situation where off-the-shelf options just didn't quite work. So, we created custom holders tailored exactly to our workspace.

Result:

  • Everything has a home

  • Faster access to 'tools'

  • Cleaner, more efficient workstations.

They are small changes, but it makes a big difference every day.


We chose to use FDM for these prints, as it is widely used for producing functional prototypes, tooling, and durable parts across a broad range of applications. To learn more about FDM, or see our design guide, visit: FDM 3D Printing Services | Tempus 3D



  1. Custom Tool Holders That Actually Fit the Job



Cerakote gun holder Utility cart tool holder (in progress)


One of those familiar frustrations popped up again. We had a standard tool but couldn’t find a holder that actually fit. So, we did what we usually do: designed and printed a custom one that works perfectly.

We also have a utility cart for other tools, but everything kept shifting around. So we came up with a simple custom fix for that as well. It’s still a work in progress, but hey, small steps.

We used PLA material for these holders. For more information on PLA, check out:


  1. Custom signage for the workplace


old signage new signage signage to sort out material type


This has to be our favourite out of our Kaizen improvements. Gone are the days of using paper in plastic sleeves being taped to doors and other areas. We decided to 3D print them instead. This gave a more professional, cleaner look to the workplace. We also printed some for our recycling bins to sort out the material types. You can watch how we did the signage here:


What we learned along the way


A few takeaways from our 3D printing Kaizen journey:

  • Start small; The best ideas often come from everyday annoyances

  • Iterate quickly; Your first design doesn't have to be perfect

  • Involve the team; The best insights come from the people doing the work

  • Save time where it matters; Seconds saved per task = hours saved over time


Final thoughts


Kaizen isn't about giant leaps; it's about steady progress. And 3D printing gives us the tools to make those improvements happen right now, not months from now.

Every small fix adds up. Every idea counts. And sometimes, the simplest printed part can have the biggest impact, and be the biggest win.


If you've got an idea for something we can improve, or print, let's make it possible!









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