Exploring premises and challenges in the realisation of continuous improvement in manufacturing enterprises

Purpose:The purpose of this article is to identify the underlying premises behind improvement initiatives as seen by selected managers, to examine the challenges they observe during the realisation of continuous improvement activities, and to explore their expectations regarding the improvement of CI execution.Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a qualitative case study methodology, based on structured interviews conducted with production directors, CI managers, and shift supervisors.The research was carried out in two manufacturing companies with a long-standing commitment to continuous improvement. Findings:The research results demonstrate that the managers under study have different perspectives on the identification of premises, perceived problems, and expectations for organisational support, which correlate with their roles within the organisation.A commonly reported issue is the declining employee engagement in CI activities over time, influenced by various factors and events, as well as insufficient support for the production department from other departments in the realisation of CI.Research limitations/implications: This research is exploratory in nature and should be considered a pilot study.The limitation of study to two case studies naturally restricts the generalisability of the findings.Further research is required across a broader group of manufacturing firms and should also be extended to organisations in other sectors -such as services or retail -for the purpose of comparative analysis.Practical implications: Organisations engaged in continuous improvement must focus on sustaining these initiatives over time.It is essential to identify and address emerging challenges and identify the expectations of managers creating the conditions for CI practices.This requires ongoing refinement of existing systemic CI approaches, with particular emphasis on collaboration across organisational units and effective coordination of improvement efforts.Originality/value: The research offers a perspective on the studied issues of continuous improvement from the viewpoints of selected managers involved in creating the conditions necessary for its realisation.