MC9902C02 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-7: Kaoru Ishikawa, Quality Circle, Polskie Radio Program Iii
QUALITY CIRCLES
A Quality Circle (QC) is a participation management technique to manage and
improve the quality of the entire organization. The power of a QC comes from
mutual trust between managers and employees, which leads to more mutual
understanding.
The purpose of a QC is to build towards a good relationship with employees, so
they will show more interest and devotion in the work they do. This will result in
increased quality, productivity and cost reduction.
Quality circle is a participant management method in which a team of employees
works towards solving and defining a problem that is related to the performance
or quality of a product.
It is an integral part of enterprise management where small teams of six to twelve
members come forward voluntarily to form a quality control circle.
The group meet regularly and have discussions about quality problems. They are
also responsible for investigating causes and suggesting viable solutions so that
corrective actions can be undertaken
History of Quality circle
QCs first appeared in Japan. It was Japanese professor Kaoru Ishikawa who first
used the term quality circles and made it accessible in his 1985 manual ‘What is
Total Quality Control? The Japanese Way’. The underlying idea was to
systematically include employees from all levels in the organization-wide
production of quality.
Many businesses in Europe and the United States also adopted working with
quality circles, including Hewlett-Packard and Coleman. The latter business
started with quality circles when the lifespan of a torch battery did not meet
expectations.
Meaning of quality circle
Quality circle is defined as a group of workers, who work voluntarily to improve and
develop products in an organization related to the production process, material
wastage, quality of finished, semi-finished goods and raw materials, energy
consumption, maintenance, safety, and delay.
It also solves problems related to any of them. Other names like often address the
quality circle
• Productivity Circles
• Human Resources Circles
• Excellence Circles
• Action Circles
• Small Groups
Features of quality circle
1. It is a voluntary group, and the initiative to join the quality circle rests with the
interested party. People are invited to join the circle but not compelled or
forced.
2. The size varies from six to twelve members, although everyone belongs to a
specific work area. Sometimes they consult specialists from other areas to gain
his perspective and find appropriate solutions. Emphasizes on a small group to
maintain harmonious relations and apt coordination between members.
3. The meetings are held at periodic intervals to discuss and contemplate about
the related issues. Sometimes it is a weekly activity, and at other times the
timing can shift as per the requirement. It is the quality circle members who
decide the frequency of the meeting and its timings to suit every member.
Often it is the need of the hour that decides about the frequency and time limit
of these meetings.
4. An organization may have several quality circles depending upon its
requirement. As it is a work-related group, more often, it is their supervisor who
takes up the mantle of leadership.
5. Every quality circle has its point of reference and problems and is restricted to
its specific product or service. They do not interfere in the working of other
quality circles.
6. It is adept at solving issues and offering an apt solution. The quality circle
collects data, identify and analyze, and lastly come to a solution after several
discussions amongst the members. The final idea is presented to the
management by the group and not the leader alone. The best thing about a
Document Summary
A quality circle (qc) is a participation management technique to manage and improve the quality of the entire organization. The power of a qc comes from mutual trust between managers and employees, which leads to more mutual understanding. The purpose of a qc is to build towards a good relationship with employees, so they will show more interest and devotion in the work they do. This will result in increased quality, productivity and cost reduction. Quality circle is a participant management method in which a team of employees works towards solving and defining a problem that is related to the performance or quality of a product. It is an integral part of enterprise management where small teams of six to twelve members come forward voluntarily to form a quality control circle. The group meet regularly and have discussions about quality problems. They are also responsible for investigating causes and suggesting viable solutions so that corrective actions can be undertaken.
