An essential component of TQM is Continuous Improvement. Continuous improvement is the ongoing improvement of products, services or processes through incremental and breakthrough improvements.
Continuous improvement can be achieved with the use of a number of tools and techniques which include:
- Process mapping
- Root Cause Analysis
- Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle
Process Mapping
Process Mapping provides an accurate understanding of the process that has been identified for improvement. The process map, shows the flows graphically from start to finish, which include activities, personnel, and outcomes. Importantly, it defines the scope of the process, the interface with other methods, and provides a starting point via which improvement can be measured against. Figure 5 is an example of a basic process map for the purchasing of a component from a supplier:
Figure 5: Process map for purchasing of component from supplier