Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement strategy has been mostly applied in the field of quality improvement. The concept reviews initiatives that enhance operational performance and reports on research in the area highlighting key success factors, capabilities and business evidence.
Technique Overview
Continuous Improvement Definition
The term continuous improvement (CI) is derived from the Japanese management concept Kaizen. It is a process of constantly introducing small incremental changes in a business in order to improve quality and/or efficiency. Bhuiyan and Baghel (2005) define CI more generally as a culture of sustained improvement targeting the elimination of waste in all systems and processes of an organisation. It involves collective working to make improvements without necessarily making huge capital investments (Bhuiyan and Baghel, 2005).
Continuous Improvement Description *
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Business Evidence
Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Continuous Improvement *
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Business Application
Implementation, success factors and measures of Continuous Improvement *
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Professional Tools
Continuous Improvement videos and downloads *
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Further Reading
Continuous Improvement web and print resources *
Continuous Improvement references (4 of up to 20) *
- Bhuiyan, N. and Baghel, A.(2005) An Overview of Continuous Improvement: From the Past to the Present. Management Decision, Vol. 43(5), pp. 761-771.
- Brown, A. and Eatock, J. (2008) Quality and Continuous Improvement in Medical Device Manufacturing. The TQM Magazine, Vol. 20(6), pp. 541-555.
- Bullivant, R.N.J. (1994) Benchmarking for Continuous Improvement in the Public Sector. Longman, Harlow.
- Colman, R. (2002) Shifting into High Gear: Honda Canada Drives Process Innovation with its Employees. CMA Management Magazine, October Edition.
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