Hughes' cornerstone of continuous improvement: An internal evaluation and corrective action system

In response to increasing competition in the communications satellite business and a desire for continuous improvement of its operations and business systems, Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC) developed an internal evaluation and corrective action (IECA) system that has become the cornerstone of its continuous improvement effort. This system involves and emphasizes the critical evaluation and improvement of processes rather than the mere confirmation that work performed complies with procedural requirements, which is characteristic of traditional auditing.