Best Practice Explorer Themes
Continuous Improvement
In today's highly competitive market, successful organisations must be open to change if they are to maintain their business advantage. Being forward looking and receptive to new ideas are essential elements of continuous improvement.
Continuous means ongoing. The process never stops and sustained success is more likely in organisations which regularly review their business methods and processes in the drive for improvement.
Essential factors for continuous improvement
- Total commitment from senior management
- Opportunities for all employees to contribute to the continuous improvement process
- Ensuring employees know their role in achieving the business strategy
- Managing the performance and contribution of employees
- Good communications throughout the organisation
- Development and training of staff and linking training activities to operations and business strategy
- Signing up to recognised quality management systems and standards
- Measuring and evaluating progress against key performance indicators and benchmarks
By continually reviewing these areas, change can be managed effectively and continuous improvement becomes a natural part of the business process. It creates steady growth and development by keeping the business focussed on its aims, priorities and performance. The continuous improvement process has been shown to bring significant benefits to all types of organisations in a variety of sectors.
Business benefits
- Better business performance resulting in increased profits
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
- Improved staff morale
- Better job satisfaction and improved recruitment and retention figures
- Better communications within organisations
- Improved relations with suppliers
- Shorter lead-in time to market
- Better use of resources
- More efficient planning
- Theme Resources
- Best Practice Explorer
- KPI Management Tool