Part A: Read the web articles listed as resources for this module. Now that you have learned about continuous improvement, how would you describe the importance of continuous improvement techniques and tools to an organization? Explain the relationship of sustainability to continuous improvement in your own words.
Part B: Respond to two of your peers
- Respond to Brandon B.
Continuous improvement techniques and their tools can deliver results that can change the structure of an industry in a positive manner. There are many different tools involved with continuous improvement. PDCA (Plan Do Check Act), 5’S, JIT (Just in Time), and SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies) are just a few they can choose from. An organization might not have the need to utilize all the tools available but embracing some of their techniques could mean the difference in a successful or failing industry. Throughout history, technology has improved that when cellphones were made, they did not just stop with the first model, they continued and improved upon the prototype. Soon, other companies decided they could do a better job, so they created their own version. Point being, industries must evolve, and improve on what does not work and what does, find ways to make it better. In order to gain sustainability, an industry would not want to become complacent with the results they receive from continuous improvement. They should go above and beyond their expectations, try and see which continuous improvement tools will be inspirational to their industry and embrace it. - Respond to Benjamin C.
I think that the articles provided this week only validate everything that we've learned so far in this class that continuous improvement is essential to sustainability and success for any company. The article "Its Time to Rethink Continuous Improvement" by Ron Ashkenas did make some good points in my opinion. He also said that continuous improvement is extremely important but its best to be careful not to stifle creativity in certain areas, such as research and development for example. The company I am working for right now actually operates like that and it seems to work well. The company does a 7S walkthrough with upper management every quarter to check on continuous improvement status and progress from the last walkthrough. There is a big continuous improvement initiative currently taking place but that walkthrough is only for factories and doesn't include engineering labs, and I think it leads back to the fact that R&D labs and areas just operate differently.
I think that a company’s sustainability is partially dependent on continuous improvement. I say partially because a company’s sustainability isn't solely dependent on continuous improvement, but without it longevity will be hard to accomplish. The economy, competition, supply & demand, and regulations are all elastic variables that change often so continuous improvement is a must for adaptation in my opinion.
Works cited:
Ron Ashkenas, May 08, 2012. Its Time to Rethink Continuous Improvement. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2012/05/its-time-to-rethink-continuous.html#comment-section
Sample Solution