DAFI38-401 — Continuous Process Improvement (cpi)

DAFI38-401 governs the Air Force Continuous Process Improvement program, including its implementation, standards, and certification requirements.

Search DAFI38-401

  • Publication number: DAFI38-401
  • Title: CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT (CPI)
  • Date: 2019-08-23

View DAFI38-401 on armypubs.army.mil


It covers CPI principles, process effectiveness and efficiency, performance improvement, education and training, and practitioner certification. It also establishes roles, command-specific guidance, support requirements, and a knowledge management and information sharing capability.

Applies to: This instruction applies to all civilian employees and uniformed members of the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard.

Topics covered

  • Continuous Process Improvement
  • Process transformation
  • CPI practitioner certification
  • Performance standards
  • Education and training requirements
  • Process effectiveness and efficiency
  • Innovation projects
  • Knowledge management and information sharing

Questions and answers

What does DAFI38-401 establish for Air Force continuous improvement?

Accordingly, this instruction establishes USAF’s CPI program.

What principles guide Air Force continuous process improvement?

Key principles contained in these methodologies include alignment of mission and metrics at all organizational levels, redesigning processes to improve flow and reduce waste, eliminating factors that degrade product quality, identifying and overcoming process constraints or even completely redesigning processes using clean-sheet thinking.

What do CPI efforts focus on?

CPI efforts focus on process effectiveness and efficiency across the AF using principles that apply to all work processes.

What certification levels are covered by the CPI standards?

A common set of CPI standards for training and certification of CPI practitioners at the levels of Green Belt (GB), Black Belt (BB), and Master Black Belt (MBB).

What must be maintained for records created by prescribed processes?

Ensure all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with Air Force Manual 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule located in the Air Force Records Information Management System.

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