Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to incrementally improve products, processes, and services over time through small, sustainable changes. Continuous improvement is a core principle of lean manufacturing and quality management, engaging all employees in identifying and implementing improvements.
RELATED TERMS
Kaizen
A Japanese philosophy meaning continuous improvement through small, incremental changes involving all employees from executives to shop floor workers. Kaizen events or blitzes are focused improvement activities where cross-functional teams tackle specific problems over a few days to achieve rapid results.
Lean Manufacturing
A systematic approach to manufacturing derived from the Toyota Production System that focuses on eliminating waste while delivering value to customers. Lean identifies seven types of waste (overproduction, waiting, transport, overprocessing, inventory, motion, and defects) and uses tools like value stream mapping, 5S, and kanban to continuously improve processes.
Six Sigma
A data-driven methodology for eliminating defects and reducing process variation using statistical analysis and the DMAIC framework (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Six Sigma aims for processes that produce no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities, representing near-perfect quality.
Total Productive Maintenance
A holistic approach to equipment maintenance that aims to achieve perfect production with no breakdowns, no defects, and no accidents. TPM involves operators in routine maintenance tasks and focuses on proactive and preventive maintenance to maximize equipment effectiveness throughout its lifecycle.