Improving on Continuous Improvement

摘要

The venerable quality guru W. Edwards I Deming defined continuous improvement simply as "improvement initiatives that increase successes and reduce failures." Sounds simple, doesn't it? In concept it is simple, but it is the execution that requires perseverance. The need for continuous improvement (CI) is present in every industry, but mandatory in technology industries such as the PCB industry. Speaking of continuous improvement, as a side note, it was clear at this year's IPC Expo that our industry is repositioning itself and aggressively marketing the transition from the PCB industry moniker to the new IMS (Interconnect Manufacturing Services) industry designation. I support this transition and will make every attempt to incorporate this lexicon into these columns. It certainly worked for the EMS industry, upgrading our image from the old "board stuffer" perception. Continuous improvement is a journey, and as with most things worthwhile, needs to be an integral part of an organization's everyday life. It can only come from people, motivated and committed, learning what they can learn, solving problems that they can solve, and implementing solutions that they develop. Continuous improvement cannot be defined as putting together an ad-hoc group to "put out a fire." Crisis management is not continuous improvement; preventing the crisis is.