Yazaki Corporation, a global automotive infrastructure supplier founded in 1941, faced a familiar yet complex problem. With over 300,000 employees worldwide and a deep commitment to Japanese genba culture – where managers walk the factory floor to understand problems firsthand – the company’s European operations were struggling with fragmented innovation processes.
1. The Challenge
Across Yazaki’s 30+ EMEA countries, each location was operating in its own innovation silo:
- Excel spreadsheets tracked Kaizen suggestions locally, but ideas rarely traveled beyond plant walls
- Email chains buried brilliant engineering improvements in endless threads
- SharePoint lists offered structure but lacked dedicated innovation workflows
- No visibility meant successful ideas in Spain remained invisible to teams in Germany
“Engineering improvement ideas were hard to follow through a unified workflow, and each plant had its own method for logging suggestions,” explains a Yazaki project lead. The result? Valuable innovations were lost, employees felt discouraged, and managers couldn’t benchmark improvements across the region.
2. The Search: Finding the Perfect Fit
When Yazaki began evaluating innovation management solutions, they needed something special – a platform that could handle both shop-floor Kaizen suggestions and complex engineering projects while serving 30,000+ multilingual employees.
Why Crowdworx Won
After comparing several vendors, Crowdworx stood out for one critical reason: flexibility without compromise.
“The software is designed exactly how we requested from the beginning,” noted Yazaki’s project lead. Unlike rigid alternatives, Crowdworx offered:
- Multi-workflow capability – Handle different idea types with custom approval flows
- Unified transparency – “Workflows are processed transparent and fast in one engine—not only one process, but many different, each with its own set of rules and roles”
- Multilingual support – Including on-the-fly idea translation, essential for EMEA’s diverse workforce
- Enterprise scalability – Proven track record with manufacturers like Siemens Healthineers and Magna
- Dedicated partnership – “Great support whenever we needed” throughout implementation
3. The Transformation: From Chaos to Clarity
Rolling Out “IdeaHub”
In mid-2023, Yazaki launched Crowdworx as their regional “IdeaHub” through a methodical, phased approach:
Phase 1: Foundation
- Configured process templates to mirror existing Kaizen workflows
- Imported historical idea data (no good suggestion left behind)
- Set up custom forms and categories for different departments
Phase 2: Pilot & Refine
- Initial rollout in select locations for feedback
- Fine-tuned workflows based on real user experience
Phase 3: Regional Launch
- Full deployment across Europe, Middle East, and Africa
- Minimal training required thanks to intuitive interface
- Branded internally to fit Yazaki’s unique culture
4. The Results: Innovation Unleashed
Breaking Down Silos
The transformation was immediate and measurable. Real-time visibility replaced the old “black box” approach – now every idea’s journey from submission to implementation is transparent to all stakeholders.
Cross-Border Collaboration
“An idea submitted in Spain could be seen and commented on by experts in Germany, breaking down silos.” This knowledge sharing became Yazaki’s competitive advantage, with successful improvements rapidly spreading across plants.
Key Improvements Achieved:
- Faster Decision-Making – Automated workflows prevent ideas from languishing; system escalates stalled ideas automatically
- Higher Engagement – Notable uptick in idea generation since launch; employees see suggestions acknowledged and tracked
- Better Management Insight – Unified dashboards show idea pipelines across entire EMEA region with filtering by plant, topic, or status
- Eliminated Administrative Burden – No more manual Excel tracking or email chains
- Measurable Impact – Clear visibility into cost savings and efficiency gains from implemented ideas
Real Success Story
In one division, a wiring harness assembly improvement saved significant labor time. Because it was shared on IdeaHub, other plants quickly replicated the improvement – exactly the kind of rapid knowledge transfer Yazaki’s leadership envisioned.
5. The Bottom Line
“Crowdworx has turned our previously fragmented continuous improvement program into a unified ‘IdeaHub’ with much higher agility and reach,” reports a Yazaki innovation coordinator.
By replacing cumbersome Excel sheets with a cloud-based, real-time solution, Yazaki EMEA transformed their innovation culture from scattered local efforts into a strategic, integrated activity spanning 30+ countries.
What Made the Difference:
- One platform managing both Kaizen suggestions and engineering projects
- Complete transparency with real-time idea tracking
- Cross-location collaboration breaking down geographic silos
- Automated workflows ensuring no idea gets forgotten
- Multilingual support engaging diverse workforce
- Enterprise scalability supporting 30,000+ employees
Today, Yazaki’s European operations run on a foundation of continuous innovation – where every employee, from shop floor to engineering lab, contributes to a unified vision of improvement and excellence.
