Comparing Quality and Business Improvement Methodologies for Collaborative Working in the Product Development Process of SMEs

This paper makes the case that of all of the improvement methodologies used in businesses, continuous improvement can overcome the problem of ossification in the context of new product development where the ability to engage in exploitation and exploration may be a prerequisite for business success in the future. In particular, indicators such as linking strategic objectives to improvement activity and degrees of integration of systems within and between firms have a close fit with the cultural dimension of continuous improvement, something which is largely absent from top down, output focused TQM and Lean programmes. The case is made on the basis of a review of a variety of literatures including those on TQM, Lean, continuous innovation, the extended manufacturing enterprise and bootlegging.