evolutionary , volutionary Operations

Apple iPod Nano: Despite its new design, the fourth-generation iPod Nano is more of an evolutionary step than a major overhaul. (Nick Mediati, PC World)

Definition

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evolve Show phonetics
verb [I or T]
to develop gradually, or to cause something or someone to develop gradually:
Humans evolved from apes.
The company has evolved over the years into a multi-million dollar organization.
Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics.

evolution Show phonetics
noun [U]
the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years, or a gradual process of change and development:
Darwin's theory of evolution
the evolution of language

evolutionary Show phonetics
adjective
The change has been evolutionary (= gradual) rather than revolutionary.

EVOP or Evolutionary Operations is a manufacturing process-optimization technique developed in the 1950s by George E. P. Box.

In EVOP experimental designs and improvements are introduced, while an ongoing full-scale manufacturing process continues to produce satisfactory results. The idea is that process improvement should not interrupt production.

Sources

• EVOP Design of Experiments
• full description of the technique