Deadline: 31-Aug-2025
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop a demonstration project on digital kaizen for SMEs in the manufacturing sector, aiming to build model companies, strengthen practitioner expertise, and disseminate best practices across APO member economies.
The focus areas are the development of model companies for digital kaizen in a selected APO member to serve as a benchmark in the Asia-Pacific region, equipping productivity practitioners with advanced knowledge and skills in digital kaizen, enhancing understanding and promoting implementation of digital kaizen, and disseminating best practices and case studies across APO member economies.
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between economies in digital adoption, as rapid technological advances present opportunities but also highlight disparities, especially among SMEs facing barriers such as high costs and limited resources. Through this project, APO will select a qualified institution or team to establish demonstration companies that showcase digital kaizen’s benefits and provide role models for productivity enhancement in the region.
The selected team will be responsible for preparing the project methodology in close consultation with the APO Secretariat, national productivity organizations, and demonstration companies, monitoring and evaluating progress, supporting dissemination efforts, and preparing a publication that documents the productivity journey of the demonstration companies. Proposals must include institutional details, experience in similar projects, and a detailed financial proposal in US dollars, inclusive of all applicable taxes.
Selection will be based on qualifications in digital kaizen and SME transformation, experience in APO member economies, methodology quality, prior outputs, and cost effectiveness. Proposals must be submitted by 17:00 JST on 31 August 2025. Only the selected institution will be notified of the results within one month of the deadline.
This RFP represents a significant opportunity for institutions with expertise in digital kaizen to shape model practices in the manufacturing sector and contribute to inclusive productivity growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, visit APO.