An exploration of Kaizen events in hospitals using a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study aims to comprehensively survey the existing body of knowledge on Kaizen events (KEs) in hospitals, highlighting key dimensions such as the maturity of KE research, trends in publications and authorship, the networks of collaborating research teams and communities and commonly utilized research methods. Design/methodology/approach To assess the current body of knowledge on this topic, a systematic literature review (SLR), integrated with bibliometric analysis, was conducted, drawing from three major databases: ProQuest, Web of Science (WOS) and Engineering Village. Findings The SLR process yielded 64 technical papers for analysis. Bibliometric findings reveal that hospital KE research is a pertinent and engaging topic for academic scholars and industry practitioners. While evidence of collaboration exists within the research community, there is significant potential to leverage further collaborative efforts for even greater research advancements and impact. Moreover, the findings also highlight opportunities for further development and advancement in this research area by quantitative approaches. Research limitations/implications This work was tailored to capture relevant works from a select number of platforms with studies in English. Future research could expand the scope by incorporating additional databases and exploring other key maturity dimensions to achieve a more comprehensive assessment and synthesis. Originality/value This study provides a holistic and comprehensive evaluation of hospital KEs, utilizing a rigorous systematic approach across three major scholarly databases. Additionally, it aims to advance this critical knowledge area by elaborating on current trends and developments within this research domain.