Continuous Improvement (process, importance and characteristics)

Technological and administrative changes grow parallel to modernization, any company that wants to stay, grow and be successful and profitable must develop processes of continuous improvement that allows you to visualize a broad horizon, in search of excellence and innovation.

What is continuous improvement?

The desire and action to improve whatever you do today, tomorrow to improve what was done yesterday and thus continue day by day and not stop even after achieving excellence.

Obtaining better and better results is part of a progressive process, it is not achieved in a day, for This requires effort, constant dedication, planning and preparation for future requirements.

Continuous improvement process

It is a concept implemented in companies that seeks to improve processes, products and services. It is based on the change in the general attitude of the organization in search of a stability of the productive process that it contemplates the possibilities of improvement.

Growth and development imply the identity of all the processes and the detailed study of each conceived step.

Therefore this process is the most effective way to improve the quality and efficiency of organizations. In this sense, companies implement quality management systems and ISO standards. Some of the tools used include the customer satisfaction study, some preventive and corrective actions for the entire process.

It should be noted that the basis for the success of this improvement process is to properly establish quality policies, clearly define and precision the characteristics of the products or services that are offered to customers, what is expected of workers, among other measures. In general, this policy deserves the commitment of all areas of the organization.

Importance of implementing continuous improvement.

• It contributes to the consolidation of the strengths and the improvement of the weaknesses of the company, which has a positive impact on the productivity.
• Contributes to the creation of a stronger and more competitive image in the market.
• It facilitates the correction of errors or inconveniences in the organization, based on the analysis of the processes carried out.
• The improvement process seeks a better quality of the products thinking about the needs of the client, in adapt to their tastes in order to achieve their preference, increase sales, grow in the market and become leaders.
• It guides the company towards excellence, involved with a process that establishes the acceptance of a new challenge every day.
• It is effective in developing positive changes.
• Minimizes quality failures, thereby saving money and effort.

Characteristics of the continuous improvement process

• Should be continuous and progressive.
• It must incorporate all the activities carried out in the company at all levels.
• It involves investment, either in advanced technology, more efficient machinery and equipment, the improvement of customer service, continuous training of human resources, research and development.
• Employees must have the necessary knowledge to understand the client's demands, and in this way achieve to offer excellent products or services.
• It considers the needs, tastes and requirements of the client, who constitutes the driving force towards improvement.
• It involves permanent improvement of the entire organization, from the manager to the lower-level workers. The continuous improvement This process depends on the involvement and commitment of the staff, individually or as a member of the department team. or area, the employee must be encouraged and motivated as well as committed to meeting the goals and objectives of the organization.
• The company that implements the improvement process, accepts challenges, challenges and is open to change.
• It involves an analysis of the process that will allow discovering opportunities for improvement and developing a systematic quality improvement plan.
• It includes the feedback incessant between the producer and the client, between the producer and his suppliers.
• It includes measurements at the different stages of the process.

Continuous improvement process implementation cycle.

Planning:

It is the first step of any administrative process, it consists of the establishment of the goals, objectives and processes necessary to achieve the results according to the organization policies and taking into account the client's requirements.

Do:

It consists of the implementation and start-up of the processes.

Check:

It is carried out by monitoring and measuring each process and the results obtained with respect to the goals, objectives, policies and requirements of the product. It is important that the information obtained here is transmitted in order to make the changes that are necessary to carry out.

Act:

It refers to carrying out the necessary actions to continuously improve the performance of the different processes. Based on all the information collected, also correct errors that may arise along the way, thus directing the organization in all its performance to success and excellence.

Advantages and disadvantages of continuous improvement

Advantage

• The effort is concentrated in the organizational areas and in key procedures of the development and general performance of the company.
• Consequently it is achieved improvements to short term, the results are easily measurable since they are visualized by themselves.
• In addition to the rReduction of defective production, that is, it minimizes failures, errors and defects in the finished products, which in turn brings the reduction costs, avoids the waste of raw materials and the best use or consumption of inputs such as electricity, water, and the resource human.
• Increase the productivity and leads the company towards competitiveness, which allows the company to remain and grow in the market.
• It favors the adaptation of the company to the processes and technological advances.

Disadvantages

• Sometimes it deserves a strong investment, to modernize the equipment, machines and technology that were used before the process.
• Therefore se loses interdependence between members, by concentrating on a specific area, therefore it must incorporate the entire organization.
• It requires change throughout the company, success in this process deserves the participation of all members of the organization, therefore, a real commitment to the organization is necessary. mission Y view of the company.
• The process can be lengthy due to very conservative managers.
• You need to accept risks.

The most important thing is that there are many companies that are adopting the methods and techniques of continuous improvements, as a standard procedure to carry out all the work and new projects to be carried out.