Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), Continuous Improvement Process (CIP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) all mean the same thing. For clarity, we will use CIP.
It is a philosophy, a methodology or system, and a way of doing business. It is a methodology applied to every step in a business or service and is used in every sector. Every organization faces three common problems: waste, low productivity and high costs. Using a variety of tools and methods, an organization can examine and improve every aspect of its business or service delivery.
Police departments, health care systems, food services, manufacturing, and educational institutions are some of the sectors using the continuous improvement process to improve customer satisfaction and improve the bottom line.
For examples on how some sectors are accomplishing this:
Manufacturing http://www.willowcnc.com/improvement/
Public Service http://www.tbssct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/opepubs/otherpubs/cqcps1_e.html