The fundamental basis of any continuous improvement practice lies primarily in the concept that every process, procedure, or check that has been developed by a person has been done at a given moment in time, based on their knowledge of the system or the output at that point.  As we move through that system, we learn more about it every single time, and this information should be regularly reviewed to confirm that the system is working as efficiently and effectively as possible.  If not, then we should alter the process, procedure, or check so that it becomes more efficient and effective.  Then we should test out those changes, and review the impacts — if the system is better, we keep the changes; if it’s worse, we try another set of changes.  Then we repeat the process.