Continuous Improvement gains momentum at CERN
CERN’s Continuous Improvement Team reports steady progress in 2026, with 137 ideas under review and new training programs launching to embed a culture of operational excellence by 2030.
In January 2026, CERN launched the CERNidée portal to collect ideas from staff aimed at streamlining processes, enhancing services and removing daily work obstacles. During the first half of 2026, the portal received over one suggestion per working day on average, demonstrating active engagement from the CERN community. All submissions are evaluated by the Continuous Improvement Team alongside relevant process owners to assess feasibility, resource requirements and scalability before implementation. As of mid-2026, 64 ideas are being assessed with owners while 73 are undergoing initial review, with no proposals yet ruled out as unfeasible.
The Continuous Improvement Team has already implemented or is developing improvements in collaboration with process and service owners across multiple areas. Current initiatives include studying changes to site access procedures, reducing manual invoice processing and simplifying small purchase and credit card transaction workflows. These efforts align with CERN’s organizational excellence goals within the Strategy for 2026–2030.
To embed continuous improvement across the Organization, CERN is establishing a Continuous Improvement Network to support departments in applying improvement methods. The network will provide training at beginner, practitioner and expert levels, equipping personnel with tools to identify inefficiencies and enhance processes regardless of role.
CERN encourages broader participation in continuous improvement and invites staff to submit further ideas via the CERNidée portal. The Continuous Improvement Team emphasizes ongoing cross-organizational engagement as essential to achieving the 2030 objectives of organizational excellence.