Continuous Improvement Process (CIP, or CI) is a management process whereby delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility (Wikipedia). Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a part of the ISO 9001 standard.
Sporadic problems are dramatic and must receive immediate attention. Chronic problems are not dramatic and occur over a long time, are often difficult to solve.For chronic problems, it means achieving better and better levels of performance each year; for sporadic problems it means taking corrective action on periodic problems; the process refinements it means taking such action as reducing variation around a target value (Gryna 2007).
Gryna, Chua, et al (2007), Juran's Quality Planning and Analysis, 5th Edition.