Clarification of Terms & Definitions
Do some body contribute to give a thought why standard has use the word continual improvement and not continuous improvement. As far as my knowledge is concerned, continuous means with out any gaps or interruption and continual means with steps or planned frequency. To me, every activity to review, plan, check and act leads towards improvement. In this sense, we are using the approach of "continuous improvement". What's your idea????......Actually some body may treat it foolish to think like this.....but I want to understand the logic of every term used in ISO 22000.
Regards.
The Continual Improvement vs. Continuous Improvement Dilemma...
Below is a summary quote from the above article – it sort of makes sense – I think.
Again, Deming himself never used the term "continuous improvement". Rather, he used the term "continual improvement". This was an intentional distinction that Deming made. He often objected when people associated him with continuous improvement. Continual improvement is broader in scope than continuous improvement. Continuous improvement is a subset of continual improvement. Continual improvement also includes room for *discontinuous* improvements (improvements that are not like in kind to what came before - another term for this might be innovative or radical improvements such as are sought after in most reengineering efforts, or in the lean manufacturing movement). Continuous improvements are linear, incremental improvements to an existing process (Kaizen). Continual improvement includes this, as well as discontinuous/innovative improvement. In other words, continual improvement speaks to the PROCESS of improvement (always and forever (continually) ongoing, in all of its forms and in all areas) rather than the NATURE of the improvements (continuous vs discontinuous).
Thinking of continual improvement vs. continuous improvement serves to highlight the importance of developing learning disciplines on a much deeper level than most organizations seem interested in considering. If continual improvement is to be attained, the organization will be, by definition a learning organization.
Sorry for late response.
Actually I became engaged in some other activities after posting the query and forgotten to check it back.
Regards,
Simon