Continuous improvement within the company

Drawing on their practical knowledge of a wide range of industries and businesses (chemicals, electronics, automotive, mass retailing, etc.) and the fields of action of the Renault Institute –, the authors share their views on the evolution of business, past, present and future. Interpreting advances in management philosophy, in the constant quest for increased productivity and based on the Fordian model of mass production, they describe current trends, notably the importance of globalization, the growing role of downstream profit, the lean enterprise and beyond, the growing contribution of capitalization and knowledge transmission, the impact of e-business and the growing weight of the stock market in corporate strategies.

Small and medium-sized businesses are subject to the same pressures as large international groups. Quite often, they are their suppliers. As such, they form an integral part of supply chains of varying scope.

The implementation of the principles developed here will be illustrated by case studies in another article by the same authors.