Abstract

Continuous Improvement (CI) can be described as a culture of sustained improvement targeting the elimination of waste in all systems and processes of an organization. Organizations face fierce competition, and in order to enhance their reach in today's markets, they need to maintain a low cost of quality, reduce waste, trim their production lines, and speed up manufacturing. Over the past few decades, comprehensive methodologies that include tools to help firms achieve CI in a systematic fashion have evolved. Not all CI methodologies are applicable to every organization: one may suit a particular organization better than others, and in what respects is not always clear, as no detailed research has been conducted in this area. This thesis therefore concentrates on describing and comparing CI methodologies. It starts with tracing the history and evolution of CI, from the earliest initiatives to modern CI programs, to hybrid methodologies that have developed in recent years. Modern CI trends are studied, and a comprehensive study of the various CI methodologies that are available on the market is undertaken, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard, and Lean Six Sigma, and a newer methodology known as Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE(TM)). Furthermore, a computer-based model has been developed to help organizations select the best CI methodology to implement in order to best achieve their goals.