Continuous Improvement

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See also: Quality Management | Strategic Management | Systems Management

Improving Software Quality : An Insider's Guide to TQM (Wiley Series in Software Engineering Practice)

Lowell Jay Arthur / Hardcover / Published 1993

Execution : The Discipline of getting things done

Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. Crown Business. (New York: 2002) 0-609-61057-0

Continuous Improvement Tools : A Practical Guide to Achieve Quality Results (Quality Improvement) Vol 1

Richard Y. Chang, Matthew E. Niedzwiecki /Paperback / Published 1994

Continuous Improvement Tools : A Practical Guide to Achieve Quality Results (Quality Improvement) Vol 2

Richard Y. Chang, Matthew E. Niedzwiecki /Paperback / Published 1994

Continuous Process Improvement : A Practical Guide to Improving Processes for Measurable Results (Quality Improvement)

Richard Y. Chang / Paperback / Published 1994

Built to Last : Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

by James C. Collins, Jerry I. Porras ; Paperback, 368 pages

Good to Great: Why some companies make the Leap ... and others don't.

Jim Collins. Harper Collins (New York:2001) 0-06-662099-6

Another great book - and a "must read" from Jim Collins, co-author of Built to Last.

Improving R & D Perfomance the Juran Way

Al C. Endres, the Juran Institute / Hardcover / Published 1997

Lean Six Sigma by Michael George (0-07-138521-5 McGraw Hill, 2002)

Outstanding book. Blends Lean Production and Six Sigma together in extremely useful manner.

Business Process Improvement : The Breakthrough Strategy for Total Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness

H. James Harrington / Hardcover / Published 1991

Good explanation of the process for information systems.

Business Process Improvement Workbook : Documentation, Analysis, Design, and Management of Business Process Improvement

H. James Harrington, et al / Hardcover / Published 1997

Some very useful process guides.

Gemba Kaizen : A Commonsense, Low-Cost Approach to Management

by Masaaki Imai / Hardcover / Published by McGraw-Hill / ISBN: 0070314462

Synopsis:
From the author of the bestselling Kaizen comes a powerful sequel that proclaims the need for Gemba--literally, "real place"--a return to common sense in management practice. 25 illustrations.

Card catalog description
In Gemba Kaizen, world-class quality expert Masaaki Imai focuses the result-boosting techniques of kaizen on the place where they'll do the most good - gemba - the most critical areas of business performance. Defined as the "real place" where real action occurs, gemba is where products are developed (the lab and design table) and made (the shop floor), and where services are provided (the service center, retail outlet, or wherever customers come into contact with the service provider). Small kaizen enhancements to these key operations will multiply into greater success and profits many times over. Importantly, you don't need sophisticated technology, complex procedures, or expensive equipment to benefit from gemba kaizen. "The best solutions are the simple solutions," says Imai. The world's most successful corporations don't get that way by wasting millions of dollars reengineering. Instead, in Gemba Kaizen, Imai proves that these
companies achieve phenomenal business success by doing many "little things" exceedingly well ... and shows you how to apply, with minimal cost, this philosophy to achieving greater results in your own business.

Best Business Books, 1997

The author in 1989 explained Japan's success in the competitive business world in his popular Kaizen. In this book he aims at "gemba," the places where work is done and where service is offered. To improve them, it's not necessary to spend millions on new equipment or make major changes in processes. Instead, he says, look for little changes, many of them that will lead to true progress and increased profits. This approach is described in helpful detail.

Published 1997

KAIZEN: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success by Masaaki Imai

Excellent.

"Kaizen" translates as "gradual, unending improvement"_ obviously strongly related to the 1st and 5th of Deming's 14 Points. Imai shows how the philosophy of continual improve-ment is ingrained in every facet of Japanese business and describes 16 specific management practices based on Kaizen. Although not really a "Deming" book, it is nevertheless one of the classic books of the quality world. 259pp 1986 / ISBN 0 07 554332 X ; Ref.No. B44 £27.00 HB Reading Class C

Seeing the Whole: Mapping the Extended Value Stream

Jones, D. and J. Womack. Lean Enterprise Institute (Brookline, MA USA:2002) 0-9667843-5-9

Extend your efforts to the whole supply chain by the authors of Lean Thinking. Third in the series (currently three books in this series). Spiral bound for heavy usage on the job.

The Effectiveness of CQI in Health Care : Stories from a Global Perspective (ASQC Health Care Series)

Vahe A. Kazandjian (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1997

20 Keys to Workplace Improvement Revised Edition

Kobayashi, I. Productivity, Inc. (Portland, OR, USA: 1995)

Oriented strongly toward manufacturing situations. 1-56327-109-5

Continual Improvement in Government : Tools & Methods

Jerry W. Koehler / Paperback / Published 1996

The Improvement Guide : A Practical Approach to Enhancing Organizational Performance (Jossey-Bass Business and Management Series)

Gerald J. Langley (Editor), et al / Hardcover / Published 1996

The Continuously Improving Self : A Personal Guide to TQM (The 50 Minute Series)

Jeffrey E. Lickson / Paperback / Published 1992

Actual Experiences of a CEO : How to Make Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing Succeed for Your Company

Hank McHale / Hardcover / Published 1995

Quality Improvement Tools & Techniques by Peter Mears

McGraw Hill / Published 1995 / 0-07-041219-7

Improving Quality Through Planned Experimentation (McGraw Hill Series in Industrial Engineering and Management Science)

Ronald D. Moen, et al / Hardcover / Published 1991

Design and Management of Service Processes : Keeping Customers for Life (Engineering Process Improvement Series)

Rohit Ramaswamy / Paperback / Published 1996

Learning to See: Value Stream Mapping to add value and eliminate muda.

Rother, M. and J. Shook. Lean Enterprise Institute (Brookline, MA USA:1998) 0-9667843-0-8

Excellent. Just as the title suggests, a real eye opener even for experienced managers. First in a series (currently three books in this series). Spiral bound for heavy usage on the job.

Creating Continuous Flow: An Action Guide for managers, engineers & production associates

Rother, M. and R. Harris. Lean Enterprise Institute (Brookline, MA USA:2001) 0-9667843-3-2

Great follow-on to the first work. Second in a series (currently three books in this series). Spiral bound for heavy usage on the job.

CQI and the Renovation of an American Health Care System : A Culture Under Construction (Asq Health Care Series)

Mary Jean Ryan, William P. Thompson / Hardcover / Published 1997

Deming's Road to Continual Improvement by William W Scherkenbach

Useful.

The author had a close working friendship with Dr W Edwards Deming for over 18 years. Bill Scherkenbach was formerly Corporate Director of Statistical Methods at Ford Motor Company where he was responsible for guiding the implementation of Dr Deming's philosophy throughout the worldwide divisions of the company. This book is highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the theory and learn how to convert the theory into practice. A very valuable, but fairly advanced book on the psychology and "operationalisation" of change. The first part in particular provides an excellent understanding of variation. 326pp 1991

ISBN 0 945320 10 8

The Dance of Change : The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations

Peter Senge, et al. Doubleday/Currency (New York:1999) 0-385-49322-3

Another great book from Peter Senge and his crew.

E - Quality : Bridging the Total Quality Involvement Gap

Gillian Shapiro, et al / Paperback / Published 1995

Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Application Development

Sharp, A. and P. McDermott. Artech House, Inc. (Norwood, MA, USA: 2001) 1-58053-021-4

The New Shop Floor Management : Empowering People for Continuous Improvement

Kiyoshi Suzaki / (Watch for Publication data)

Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in your Corporation

Womack, J. P. and D. T. James. Simon & Schuster. (New York: 1996) 0-684-81035-2

A "must read" for any serious process improvement student.

Group Process and Productivity

Worchel, S., W. Wood and J. A. Simpson. Sage. (London: 1992) 0-8039-4226-5

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