Continuous Improvement Planning: Case Study of Basic Process Reengineering

Abstract

Public agencies engaged in the planning, design, and construction of utility infrastructure systems have developed basic administrative processes, policies, and procedures for engineering services such as production of design contract documents and handling of construction management documents. The purpose of these procedures is to minimize costs and optimize quality of the design drawings and the finished, constructed product through conformity to a system that is known to “work well.” Despite the fact that these procedures and policies have served many agencies well over the years, the world of public works engineering and construction has become one of ever-increasing public scrutiny, necessitating improved engineering/project quality without an increase in project cost. Professional service providers have found ways to do this through a process known as “continuous improvement.” This process provides a means by which a professional service provider can effectively generate new ways to do things faster, better, and cheaper. This paper defines the continuous improvement concept, and presents a case study of the continuous improvement planning process undertaken by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, Environmental Engineering Division.