The impact of standardization and systematic problem solving on team member learning and its implications for developing sustainable continuous improvement capabilities

It is important for organizations to understand the factors responsible for establishing sustainable continuous improvement (CI) capabilities. This study uses learning curve experiments to examine learning obtained by team members (TMs) doing work with and without the application of fundamental aspects of the Toyota Production System (TPS). The results are used to develop a model to guide organizational activities toward achieving the ability to continuously improve in a sustainable fashion. This study uses learning curve experiments in model production cells to examine TM learning with and without the application of key elements of TPS to more clearly understand the role of systematic problem solving and standardization in creating sustainable CI processes. The results indicate that application of standardized work principles and elimination of formally defined waste using a systematic problem-solving methodology positively impacts TM learning and performance, providing the foundation for CI. Compared to their untreated counterparts, treated teams exhibit increased, more uniformly distributed, and more sustained learning outcomes.