Abstract
The aim of this study is to provide a literature review on continuous improvement, analysing the evolution of the field by combining quantitative and qualitative analysis. More than 1000 articles have been reviewed. The articles have been collected through the prestigious database Web of Knowledge (Thomson Scientific). The results show an increasing interest in the field of continuous improvement over the past 30 years. The most discussed topics have been ‘implementation of continuous improvement systems’ and ‘methodologies’. Other findings from the study are: the existence of regional differences in research on continuous improvement, the predominance of the case study and the survey as research methodologies, and the positioning of Total Quality Management and Business Excellence as the lead scientific publication in continuous improvement areas. The present review adds value to other studies on the same topic due to the number of items used (1090), the time period covered (1980–2011), the prestigious database used (Web of Knowledge) and the combination of different analysis (quantitative and qualitative).
Highlights
Nowadays, continuous improvement is an extremely important phenomenon that has been considered a vital element in achieving business excellence for years as De Leede and Jan Kees Looise (1999) highlighted
We think that the importance of continuous improvement in the business environment has been motivated by three major phenomena: changes in the business environment, the emergence of new management systems and the importance of quality management itself
The Total Quality Management movement emerged in the eighties driven by worldwide experts such as Deming (1982) who proposed a 14 point plan to be applied to organizations in order to improve, Juran (1990) who developed the quality trilogy, Feigenbaum (1992) who first coined the term Total Quality Management (TQM) or Crosby (1989) known by his “zero defects” philosophy based on “doing things right the first time”
Summary
Continuous improvement is an extremely important phenomenon that has been considered a vital element in achieving business excellence for years as De Leede and Jan Kees Looise (1999) highlighted. The Deming Prize is aimed to those companies that have achieved some quality improvements by analysing their initial situation, establishing their own aims and transforming themselves in order to achieve their objectives ( the results are evaluated, and the processes followed), whereas the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award and the EFQM Excellence Award are designed to reward those companies that achieve excellence. In order to do so the organisation should focus on eliminating wastes and identifying new areas of improvement Based on these characteristics, in this study continuous improvement is defined as the continuous process of improvement in the company done with the participation of all staff. In this study continuous improvement is defined as the continuous process of improvement in the company done with the participation of all staff In later stages, this definition will be considered in order to ensure that the papers found effectively deal with the subject of this study
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
