Nine Principles of Process Improvement

Process improvement and Six Sigma enfold many principles, the most important of which in our opinion have been mentioned below. When we understood, these principles may cause a transformation in how we view life in general and work in particular.

The principles are as follows:

1. Life is a process (a process orientation).
2. All processes exhibit variation.
3. Two causes of variation exist in all processes.
4. Life in stable and unstable processes is different.
5. Continuous improvement is always economical, absent capital investment.
6. Many processes exhibit waste.
7. Effective communication requires operational definitions.
8. Expansion of knowledge requires theory.
9. Planning requires stability. Plans are built on assumptions.