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Continuous Improvement in your business

Continuous improvement creates steady growth and improvement. It does this by keeping a business focused on its goals and priorities.

Although continuous improvement is steady, it can produce ‘quantum leaps’ when cumulative improvements ‘synergize’. This simply means that the sum of all the small improvements can cause a profound net effect greater than the sum of all the small improvements.

The following are some key points when looking at your continuous improvement plan:

  • Continuous means ongoing. The process never stops.
  • Once a year, have an outsider review your business. Outsiders can often see what you cannot.
  • Do the simple and cheap things first and quickly. This builds credibility, momemtum and commitment with your people. It also gives you practice.
  • Have a formal suggestions system for your employees. (see article on Suggestions Spreadsheet)
  • Do not try to do it all at once. Set up a plan and do it in stages. (see article on Action Plan Spreadsheet).
  • Try to work on two or three top priorities. Working on more than that can diffuse effort, energy and resources.
  • Celebrate, acknowledge and reward accomplishment. This creates a positive environment for improvement. By creating a positive environment for improvement you can get employee participation.
  • Bring up continuous improvement issues in your production and business meetings.
  • Make certain your improvements involve your customers. Focus on delivering increasing value. This means getting regular feedback on how your business is performing and what your customers want and need.
  • Look for breakthrough improvements. One of the added benefits of continuous improvement is: everything is on the table. Some small improvements can turn out to be major improvements. Often these breakthroughs are not known until tried. Be aware breakthroughs exist and always look for them. This is a real benefit of using a continuous improvement process.
  • Develop a continuous improvement system that works for your business. Do not copy without trying – what works for one business may not work for another.
  • Look inside your industry at your competition and best practices. Competitors can often show you a better way. If it works, use it!
  • Use a cost-benefit analysis if you have difficulty setting priorities.
  • Look outside your industry to see what other industries are doing. It is likely you will find more improvement ideas outside your industry than in it.
  • Be hungry for new ideas and ways to improve. Make this a part of your business culture. Set the example and your people will follow.
  • Continuous improvement is a business philosophy that has proven results. The main idea behind continuous improvement is constant focus. By focusing on your business you can not only find out what is wrong but how to improve it.

Continuous improvement can give your business a long-term competitive advantage.

  • Plan to improve
  • Plan to succeed
  • Plan!