Common use of CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME Clause in Contracts

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME. To be read in conjunction with Appendix B Consultation. Introducing continuous improvement recognises that there is always a better way. The continuous improvement concept aims to improve the business performance by applying the following three basic principles: - Focus on the customer - Understand the process (where a process is the combination of a group of inputs to produce a desired output or result) - Involve people The concept involves a systematic approach to: - Planning the processes and their inputs - Providing the inputs - Operating the processes - Evaluating the outputs - Examining the performance of the process - Modifying the process and their inputs This system is tied to a continuous assessment of customer needs, and depends on a flow of ideas on how to make improvements, reduce variation and generate greater customer satisfaction. The continuous improvement cycle aims to ensure that the organisation learns from results, standardise what it does well and improves operations and outputs from what it learns. The aim is to do this in a planned, systematic and conscientious way to create a better organisation. A commitment to continuous improvement from management is an essential requirement.