Continuous Improvement: Sustaining the Effort

Part of the award-winning Manufacturing Insights video series, this program highlights the methods used by manufacturing companies to prevent their continuous improvement efforts from fading away. An interview with Professor Clinton Longenecker provides the reason most improvement programs fail and what you can do to keep your workforce motivated to improve.

Three companies that have re-energized their workforce are examined:

• AMP Incorporated used a "treasure hunt" to uncover millions of dollars of improvements.
• C.R. Bard realized that to sustain continuous improvement they needed to upgrade team members' people skills.
• Walbridge Coatings found that the motivation from completing the QS 9000 quality certification process has reinvigorated their continuous improvement efforts.