What are the key elements needed to achieve continuous improvement in an organization? This research proposes a planned and integrated approach, advocating for a model built on ten essential criteria, supported by best practices. The model emphasizes the crucial role of senior management in championing continuous improvement. The need to focus on stakeholder requirements, measure performance, and learn from past results is highlighted. The underpinning factors include a culture that fosters innovation, concentrates on crucial processes, and involves employees at all levels, integrating improvement activities throughout the organization. This model serves as a foundation for more complex frameworks, such as the business excellence model or Baldrige criteria, designed for organizations already committed to improvement.
Published in the International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, this study aligns with the journal’s focus on advancing quality management practices. The proposed model and its emphasis on continuous improvement contribute to the journal's ongoing dialogue on enhancing organizational performance and reliability.