QUALITY CIRCLE

Quality Circle -A way to Quality

Improvement
INTRODUCTION
People are the greatest assets of an
organization, because, through people all
resources are convertedother
into utilities. However,
management of ‘People Resources’ has always been
a vexed problem ever since the beginning
organized human activities. A number of
of
managerial responses have been developed
answer this question. to
 DEFINITION

Quality Circle is a small group of 6 to 12 employees

doing similar work who voluntarily meet together
on a regular basis to identify improvements in their
respective work areas using various techniques for
analyzing and solving work related problems
coming in the way of achieving and sustaining
excellence leading to mutual upliftment of
employees as well as the organization. It is "a way
of capturing the creative and innovative power that
lies within the work force“
Characteristics of Quality Circle
 Quality circle are small primary groups of employee
whose lower limit is three and upper limit twelve.
 The membership of quality circle is most voluntary .
 Each circle is lead by area supervisor .
 The member meet regularly every week or according
to an agreed schedule.
 The circle members are specially trained in
techniques of analysis and problem solving.
 The basic role of circles to identify and solve work
related problems for improving quality and
productivity.
 Quality circle enable their member to exercise their
hidden talents for tackling challenging tasks.
 CONCEPT
The concept of Quality Circle is primarily based upon
recognition of the value of the worker as a human
being, as someone who willingly activates on his job,
intelligence, experience, attitude and feelings. It is
based upon the human resource management
considered as one of the key factors in the
improvement of product quality & productivity.
Quality Circle concept has three major attributes:
Quality Circle is a form of participation management.
Quality Circle is a human resource development
technique.
Quality Circle is a problem solving technique.
 OBJECTIVE
The objectives of Quality Circles are multi-faced.
a) Change in Attitude.
From "I don’t care" to "I do care"
Continuous improvement in quality of work life
through humanization of work
b) Self Development
Bring out ‘Hidden Potential’ of people
People get to learn additional skills.
c) Development of Team Spirit
Eliminate inter departmental conflicts.
d) Improved Organizational
Culture
Positive working environment.
Higher motivational level.
How Do Quality Circles Work?
 Allmembers of a Circle need to receive training
 Members need to be empowered
 Members need to have the support of Senior
Management
 Characteristics
◦ Volunteers
◦ Set Rules and Priorities
◦ Decisions made by Consensus
◦ Use of organized approaches to Problem-
Solving
The Japanese description of the
effectiveness of a quality circle is
expressed as:

It is better for one hundred people to take one step

than for one person to take a hundred
 Who works for Quality
Circles?
A steering committee: This is at the top of the
structure. It is headed by a senior executive and
includes representatives from the top management
personnel and human resources development
people. It establishes policy, plans and directs the
program and meets usually once in a month.

Co-ordinator: He may be a Personnel or

Administrative officer who co-ordinates and
supervises the work of the facilitators and
administers the program.
.
Who works for Quality Circles?
Cont….
Circle leader : Circle leader may be from lowest
level supervisors. A circle leader organize and
conduct circle activities.

Circle members : They may be staff workers.

Without circle members the program cannot exist.
They are the lifeblood of quality circles. They should
attend all meetings as far as possible, offer
suggestions and ideas, participate actively in group
process.The roles of Steering Committee and Circle
members are well defined.
Formation of Quality Circle
The quality circle under consideration has a leader, a
facilitator, a coordinator and four members. The
object of the present quality circle is ‘reduction of
material wastage’. This problem was so chosen for
solution because of following facts :
a)Whether there was any reduction in material
wastage.
b)Whether there were any saving and financial
losses that should be minimized.
c)Whether it had any effect on the working of the
workers and relationship between workman and
management.
Structure of Quality Circle

Top
Management

Steer
ing
committee

Co-
ordinator

Facilitator

Leader

Members

Non Qc -
Members
Advantages:

 Product improvement
 Customer satisfaction
 efficiency savings
 financial savings
 improved company performance
 reduced customer complaints
 reduced wasted
 reduced error
 increased accuracy
Limitations:

 The overall productivity may decrease initially.

 A large investment and time is required for a
concept that is essentially new .
 The chances of error increase initially .
 After circle implementation a period of confusion
may arise. This is because people experiment
with new ideas , new skill and new roll.
 PROCESS OF OPERATION
1Problem identification: Identify a number of
problems.
2Problem selection : Decide the priority and select
the problem to be taken up first.
3Problem Analysis : Problem is clarified and
analyzed by basic problem solving methods.
4Generate alternative solutions : Identify and
evaluate causes and generate number of possible
alternative solutions.
5Select the most appropriate solution : Discuss and
evaluate the alternative solutions by comparisons.
This enables to select the most appropriate solution
PROCESS OF OPERATION
cont….
6- Prepare plan of action : Prepare plan of action
for converting the solution into reality which
includes the considerations "who, what, when,
where, why and how" of solving problems.
7 -Present solution to management circle:
Members present solution to management fore
approval.
8- Implementation of solution : The management
evaluates the recommended solution. Then it is
tested and if successful, implemented on a full
scale .
 BASIC PROBLEM SOLVING
TECHNIQUES
The following techniques are most commonly
used to analyze and solve work related
problems.

lBrain storming

lPareto analysis

l Cause & Effect Analysis

l Data Collection & Analysis

 Problems with Quality Circles


Inadequate Training

Unsure of Purpose

Not truly Voluntary

Lack of Management Interest

Quality Circles are not really empowered to make
decisions