Annex B examples of Continuous Improvement Process

[SteelWoman]

In TS16949 under 8.5.1.1 it says the organization shall define a process for Continual Improvement (see examples in annex B of ISO9004:2000). Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of ISO9004 - can someone tell me what the examples look like?

I'm chasing a rabbit - someone on my team recently pointed out that it didn't appear we had to have a written PROCEDURE for CI, but had to have a process. Also that TS, in the 8.5.1 just above the section quoted, says you shall continually improve the process "through the use of the quality policy, quality objectives, audit results, analysis of data, corrective & preventive actions and management review." Could you argue then that your CI "process" is the sume of all those things (audit results, corrective actions, review, etc) and not write a specific PROCEDURE for CI as a separate entity?

 

[Ruis72]

i've got 9004:2000 here and the examples it gives are:

"There are 2 fundamental ways to conduct continual process improvement:
a) breakthrough projects which lead to revision and improvement of existing processes or implementation of new processes - carried out by cross functional teams outside routine operations.
b) small step ongoing improvement activities conducted within existing processes by people."

it goes on to give very brief descriptions of what they should consist of but there are no mentions of having specific procedures.

hope this helps in some way!

 

[SteelWoman]

YES! That DOES help - thanks!!

 

[Bigfoot]

i've got 9004:2000 here and the examples it gives are:

"There are 2 fundamental ways to conduct continual process improvement:
a) breakthrough projects which lead to revision and improvement of existing processes or implementation of new processes - carried out by cross functional teams outside routine operations. (ex: Six Sigma)
b) small step ongoing improvement activities conducted within existing processes by people." (ex: Kaizen)


it goes on to give very brief descriptions of what they should consist of but there are no mentions of having specific procedures.

hope this helps in some way!

As I read this it occurred to me that the descriptives used in the 9004 document are written in the "Standard speak" that can sometimes lead to confusion on the part of those who are asked to use / interpret them. All of that said I have added what I thought of as examples off the top of my head.

Please feel free to add others or shoot holes in my perceptions.