Continuous Improvement Process
Encyclopedia
A continuous improvement process (CIP or CI) is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility.
Some see it as a meta-process for most management systems (Business Process Management
, Quality Management
, Project Management
). Deming
saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management' merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Some successful implementations use the approach known as Kaizen
(the translation of kai (“change”) zen (“good”) is “improvement”). This method became famous by the book of Masaaki Imai “Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success.”
The elements above are the more tactical elements of CIP. The more strategic elements include deciding how to increase the value of the delivery process output to the customer (Effectiveness) and how much flexibility is valuable in the process to meet changing needs.
One example of broad training in continuous improvement techniques is Facila
, the southern European Lifelong Learning
program where students learn to apply mathematics to everyday situations by preparing Kaizen style projects.
, such as ISO 14000
and EMAS
. Several differences exist between these two concepts. Most of all: CIP in EMS aims to improve the natural consequences of products and activities, not the products and activities as such. Also, there is no client-orientation in EMS-related CIP. And - very important - CIP in EMS is not limited to small, incremental improvements as in Kaizen
, it also contains innovations of any scale (Gastl)
Some see it as a meta-process for most management systems (Business Process Management
Business process management
Business process management is a holistic management approach focused on aligning all aspects of an organization with the wants and needs of clients. It promotes business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility, and integration with technology. BPM attempts to...
, Quality Management
Quality management
The term Quality management has a specific meaning within many business sectors. This specific definition, which does not aim to assure 'good quality' by the more general definition , can be considered to have four main components: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality...
, Project Management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
). Deming
W. Edwards Deming
William Edwards Deming was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant. He is perhaps best known for his work in Japan...
saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management' merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Some successful implementations use the approach known as Kaizen
Kaizen
, Japanese for "improvement", or "change for the better" refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, game development, and business management. It has been applied in healthcare, psychotherapy, life-coaching, government,...
(the translation of kai (“change”) zen (“good”) is “improvement”). This method became famous by the book of Masaaki Imai “Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success.”
- The core principle of CIP is the (self) reflection of processes. (Feedback)
- The purpose of CIP is the identification, reduction, and elimination of suboptimal processes. (Efficiency)
- The emphasis of CIP is on incremental, continuous steps rather than giant leaps. (Evolution)
Key features
Key features of Kaizen include:- Improvements are based on many, small changes rather than the radical changes that might arise from Research and Development
- As the ideas come from the workers themselves, they are less likely to be radically different, and therefore easier to implement
- Small improvements are less likely to require major capital investment than major process changes
- The ideas come from the talents of the existing workforce, as opposed to using R&D, consultants or equipment – any of which could be very expensive
- All employees should continually be seeking ways to improve their own performance
- It helps encourage workers to take ownership for their work, and can help reinforce team working, thereby improving worker motivation
The elements above are the more tactical elements of CIP. The more strategic elements include deciding how to increase the value of the delivery process output to the customer (Effectiveness) and how much flexibility is valuable in the process to meet changing needs.
Implementation
The involvement of all workers require training, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between symptom and ailment so that efforts are spent solving the root causes of the problem.One example of broad training in continuous improvement techniques is Facila
Facila
Facila is a training program, in Southern Europe, for adults with short primary schooling. The objective is to prepare students for validation processes and secondary education. Many participants are entrepreneurs, owners or employees of small and medium enterprises, SME:s...
, the southern European Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...
program where students learn to apply mathematics to everyday situations by preparing Kaizen style projects.
Continuous improvement in environmental management
Whereas the CIP as outlined above is a concept of Quality Management, the CIP-concept is also known in Environmental Management Systems (EMS)Environmental Management System
Environmental management system refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner....
, such as ISO 14000
ISO 14000
The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the...
and EMAS
EMAS
EMAS may be:* EMAS , a global offshore contractor and provider of integrated offshore solutions to the oil and gas industry and operating brand for Ezra Holdings....
. Several differences exist between these two concepts. Most of all: CIP in EMS aims to improve the natural consequences of products and activities, not the products and activities as such. Also, there is no client-orientation in EMS-related CIP. And - very important - CIP in EMS is not limited to small, incremental improvements as in Kaizen
Kaizen
, Japanese for "improvement", or "change for the better" refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, game development, and business management. It has been applied in healthcare, psychotherapy, life-coaching, government,...
, it also contains innovations of any scale (Gastl)