Process Elements as Keys to Continuous Improvement

Every process, no matter the content or difficulty, has at least six elements that will determine the success, relative to controlling variation, required to meet business strategies and goals. These six elements can be included on a Cause & Effect Diagram to define critical characteristics for each element as means to foster Continuous Improvement (CI) of a process. Specifically, these general categories include MAN, MACHINE, MATERIALS, METHODS, MEASUREMENT, and ENVIRONMENT. With Nonmetallic overtones, this paper will be an overview of current and future concepts for each element that will be important to achieving Continuous Improvement.