What Is Continuous Improvement?

Key takeaways

Continuous improvement is a strategy you can implement to continually improve and refine organizational performance.

• Continuous improvement promotes innovation within an organization by encouraging learning and change.

• Various types of continuous improvement methodologies exist, such as Six Sigma and Kaizen.

• You can use continuous improvement as an effective method for project management. 

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What is continuous improvement?

Continuous improvement is a process aimed at consistently enhancing performance and refining methods within individuals and organizations. It involves a commitment to ongoing growth and innovation, fostering a mindset that embraces change and learns from mistakes. 

4 stages of the continuous improvement process 

There are four steps in the continuous improvement process that are repeated:

• Plan: Set goals for change and plan the steps.

• Do: Put the plan into action.

• Check: Check whether the changes have the desired results.

• Act: If the changes are effective, apply them to the whole organization, and continue the cycle.

What is the main goal of continuous improvement?

Through continuous improvement, we strive for excellence by systematically identifying areas for improvement and implementing small, incremental changes. These include reducing waste, removing inefficiencies, and improving working relationships. 

Continuous improvement methodologies 

Continuous improvement plays a crucial role in project management by fostering an environment of learning, adaptability, and optimization throughout the project lifecycle. Many commonly used project management methodologies employ continuous improvement:

Lean

This methodology, originally created for manufacturing, is primarily used for continuous improvement. It focuses on eliminating waste, maximizing efficiency, fostering idea sharing, and facilitating learning among users. 

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a rigorous and data-driven approach to continuous improvement that aims to reduce variation and defects in processes. It utilizes a structured methodology to identify and eliminate errors, improve performance, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

Kanban

Kanban is a visual and pull-based methodology that promotes continuous improvement by focusing on workflow transparency, limiting work in progress (WIP), and optimizing cycle times.

Total quality management

Total quality management (TQM) is a comprehensive management approach that emphasizes continuous improvement, customer focus, and the involvement of all employees in achieving high-quality outcomes. 

Kaizen

Kaizen, a Japanese term meaning "change for the better" or "continuous improvement," is a philosophy and methodology that focuses on making incremental and continuous improvements in all aspects of an organization.

Related terms

• Six Sigma

• Agile

• Dependency

• Minimum viable product

Read more: Continuous Improvement Processes for Corporate Excellence

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