Process improvement is a method of analyzing and enhancing the production methods and

techniques to increase productivity and performance. Process improvement aims to reduce costs,

waste, defects, and errors, as well as to improve quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. When

considering process improvement, the first approach that should be considered is making better use

of existing resources. This means that the production system should optimize the utilization and

allocation of the available resources, such as materials, labor, machines, and space. This can be

achieved by implementing various techniques, such as lean manufacturing, six sigma, kaizen, or 5S.

Making better use of existing resources can help to improve the process without requiring additional

investment or expenditure.

The other options are not the first approaches that should be considered as part of process

improvement. Hiring more skilled people to perform the job is not the first approach, as it may

increase the labor cost and require more training and supervision. Hiring more skilled people may

not necessarily improve the process if the existing methods and techniques are inefficient or

ineffective. Buying better and faster equipment is not the first approach, as it may involve a large

capital outlay and a long payback period. Buying better and faster equipment may not necessarily

improve the process if the existing resources are underutilized or misallocated. Applying stricter

quality control is not the first approach, as it may increase the inspection and testing cost and time.

Applying stricter quality control may not necessarily improve the process if the existing methods and

techniques are prone to errors or defects. Reference: CPIM Exam Content Manual Version 7.0,

Domain 8: Manage Quality, Continuous Improvement, and Technology, Section 8.2: Continuous

Improvement Concepts, p. 46; Process Improvement; Process Improvement Definition.