The Washington Marine Group of Companies, both individually and collectively, have embarked on a journey to achieve a culture of continuous improvement.

We have initiated "formal" continuous improvement processes for which we have achieved certification. These certifications, recognized worldwide as continuous improvement platforms, include ISO 9001:2000, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001.

We have also initiated a less formal process for which there is no certification, called KAIZEN.

By employing the three basic principles listed below, KAIZEN has become the platform we use in order to achieve continuous improvement in everything we do.

• You have to believe everything you do can be improved upon (with the "you" being the person you see in the mirror each morning).
• You have to believe people want to do a good job; they only need to know what constitutes a good job.
• If you don’t achieve the results you set out to achieve, look at the process first and not the people.

In its essence, KAIZEN is a nameless, blameless improvement process that celebrates ideas and allows a person to change.

KAIZEN is the continuous improvement culture we hope to achieve.