Improvement is not going through the motions of organising improvement teams and training people. Improvement is a result, so it can only be claimed after there has been a beneficial change in an organisation's performance. There are three types of improvement. Continuous improvement is gradual never-ending change, whereas continual improvement is incremental change. Both types of improvements are what the Japanese call Kaizen.
Breakthroughs are improvements but in one giant leap - a step change.
Relationship with TQM and ISO 9000 Continual improvement is one aspect of a TQM philosophy. It can also be an element of an ISO 9000 quality system. All managerial activity is either directed at control or improvement. Managers are either devoting their efforts at maintaining performance, preventing change or creating change, breakthrough or improvement. If businesses stand still they will loose their competitive edge, so improvements must be made to keep pace and stay in business.