QUALITY CIRCLEQUALITY CIRCLE

By By KameshwarKameshwar

TMG1001102TMG1001102

OverviewOverview

What is a Quality Circle?What is a Quality Circle? Summary of History and Practices Summary of History and Practices How Do Quality Circles Work?How Do Quality Circles Work? How Can They be Used in an How Can They be Used in an

Organization?Organization? Benefits of Q.C.Benefits of Q.C. Reasons for Failure of Q.C.Reasons for Failure of Q.C.

What is a Quality Circle?What is a Quality Circle? Voluntary groups of employees who work on Voluntary groups of employees who work on

similar tasks or share an area of responsibility.similar tasks or share an area of responsibility. They agree to meet on a regular basis to They agree to meet on a regular basis to

discuss & solve problems related to work.discuss & solve problems related to work. They operate on the principle that employee They operate on the principle that employee

participation in decision-making and problem-participation in decision-making and problem-solving improves the quality of work. solving improves the quality of work. The The reduction, by their efforts, of the countless reduction, by their efforts, of the countless number of problems which impede the number of problems which impede the effectiveness of their work.effectiveness of their work.

Encourage circles to elect their own leaders Encourage circles to elect their own leaders towards the end of the training period.towards the end of the training period.

Frequency and duration of meetings is Frequency and duration of meetings is set by the group.set by the group.

Circle should be autonomous in that it Circle should be autonomous in that it should select the problems that it should select the problems that it wishes to solvewishes to solve QCs useful for mutual-QCs useful for mutual-self-development and process control self-development and process control and improvement within their and improvement within their workshop..workshop..

What is a Quality Circle? What is a Quality Circle? (continue)(continue)

Summary of History and Summary of History and PracticesPractices

Quality Circles were first seen in the Quality Circles were first seen in the United States in the 1950’sUnited States in the 1950’s

Circles were developed by Dr. Kaoru Circles were developed by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa in Japan in the 1960’sIshikawa in Japan in the 1960’s

Circles were re-exported to the US Circles were re-exported to the US in the early 1970’sin the early 1970’s

Summary of History and Summary of History and Practices (continue)Practices (continue)

1980’s brought Total Quality 1980’s brought Total Quality Management and a reduction in the Management and a reduction in the use of Quality Circlesuse of Quality Circles

Quality Circles can be a useful tool if Quality Circles can be a useful tool if used properlyused properly

The Japanese description of The Japanese description of the effectiveness of a the effectiveness of a

quality circle is expressed quality circle is expressed as:as:

““It is better for one hundred people to take one step It is better for one hundred people to take one step than for one person to take a hundred’than for one person to take a hundred’

How Do Quality Circles How Do Quality Circles Work?Work?

All members of a Circle need to receive All members of a Circle need to receive trainingtraining

Members need to be empoweredMembers need to be empowered Members need to have the support of Members need to have the support of

Senior ManagementSenior Management CharacteristicsCharacteristics

VolunteersVolunteers Set Rules and PrioritiesSet Rules and Priorities Decisions made by ConsensusDecisions made by Consensus Use of organized approaches to Problem-Use of organized approaches to Problem-

SolvingSolving

Formation of Quality Formation of Quality CirclesCircles

Start on the Shop FloorStart on the Shop Floor Base Circle on TrainingBase Circle on Training Allow the Circle to Form ItselfAllow the Circle to Form Itself Do The Training ProperlyDo The Training Properly Support with Information Support with Information

RequiredRequired Provide Skills and ExperienceProvide Skills and Experience

Requirements of Quality Requirements of Quality CirclesCircles

Management SupportManagement Support TrainingTraining Recognition SystemRecognition System

How Can They be Used in How Can They be Used in an Organization?an Organization?

Increase ProductivityIncrease Productivity Improve QualityImprove Quality Boost Employee MoraleBoost Employee Morale

The Benefits of Quality The Benefits of Quality CirclesCircles

Improvement in human relationsImprovement in human relations Help in more effective team work in Help in more effective team work in

organizationorganization Help in improving the productivityHelp in improving the productivity Enhanced interest in jobEnhanced interest in job Improve communication within employee and Improve communication within employee and

management in an organizationmanagement in an organization The Personal Development of the ParticipantsThe Personal Development of the Participants

Inadequate TrainingInadequate Training Unsure of PurposeUnsure of Purpose Not truly VoluntaryNot truly Voluntary Lack of Management InterestLack of Management Interest Quality Circles are not really Quality Circles are not really

empowered to make decisions.empowered to make decisions.

Reasons for failure of Reasons for failure of Quality CirclesQuality Circles

Reasons for failure of Reasons for failure of Quality Circles Quality Circles

(continue)(continue) They have not had enough trainingThey have not had enough training They have not been given They have not been given

sufficient autonomysufficient autonomy The Quality Circles have been The Quality Circles have been

started in isolation and not part of started in isolation and not part of a wider programme of Company-a wider programme of Company-wide Continuous Improvementwide Continuous Improvement

Thank Thank

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