A behaviour-based approach to continuous quality improvement

A Behaviour-based Approach to Continuous Quality Improvement 

Early laboratory and field study work carried out by Adam and Scott (1971), Adam (1975), McCarthy (1978) and Kim and Hammer (1976) had already demonstrated the potential of behaviour modification techniques in a quality improvement process. These studies, however, tended to focus on specific, time-bound experiments within a particular setting or occupation. We were much more interested in applying a behaviour-based approach within a plant operating a continuous production process, involving several departments, and consisting of multiple skills and skill levels. So, it seemed to us that quality behaviour, unlike safety behaviour, would be contingent on interactions with other people and we would need to optimize 

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We found that the following principles were key to the successful implementation of an OBMod approach to quality improvement in a continuous process production environment  

Each of these is discussed in turn after we examine the need to continuously improve quality performance in an organizational environment. 

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