Continuous Process Improvement

Intro

Continuous process improvement is the ongoing effort to analyze and eliminate issues in processes. It matters because it raises productivity, quality, and customer value.

Key points:

• Targets waste, defects, and delays.
• Uses iterative cycles and measurable outcomes.
• Common use cases: Lean and DMAIC (BPM), service reliability (Tech), data quality routines, release pipeline tuning (Apps).
• Pitfall: improving locally without end‑to‑end visibility.

Examples:

• Reducing claims processing time with bottleneck analysis.
• Lowering error rates via standardized work and checks.
• Automating handoffs to minimize rework.

In practice:

Start with high‑impact processes, baseline performance, and iterate with clear metrics.

Related terms: lean; six-sigma; process

FAQs:

Q: What tools support continuous improvement?
A: Value stream mapping, KPIs, and root cause analysis.

Q: How do we sustain gains?
A: Standardize changes and monitor with control charts.

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