- What is a quality circle?
- Objectives of a Quality Circle
- Features of the quality circle
- Formation of quality circle
- Duties of circle leader
- Difference between the quality circle and quality council
What is a Quality Circle?
A quality circle or quality control circle is a voluntary small size group of workers who do the same or similar work, who meet regularly to identify, analyze and solve work-related problems.
Normally small in size, the group is usually led by a supervisor or manager and presents its solutions to management; where possible, workers implement the solutions themselves in order to improve the product, the process thus overall performance of the organization and motivate employees. Quality circles were at their most popular during the 1980’s but continue to exist in the form of Kaizen groups and similar worker participation schemes (Wikipedia).
Typical topics for the attention of quality circles are improving occupational safety and health, improving product design, and improvement in the workplace and manufacturing processes.
Quality Circle: A Glimpse of Its Evolution
Professor Kaoru Ishikawa had defined the term of the quality circle in his 1988 handbook, “What is Total Quality Control? The Japanese Way”
1962: First QC Circle was registered with QC Circle Head Quarters in Japan.
1974: Lockheed Company, USA started Quality Circle movement.
1977: International Association of Quality Circles (IACC) was formed in USA.
1980: BHEL, Hyderabad first in India to start Quality Circles.
1982: Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI) was founded.
What are the objectives of a Quality Circle?
- Improvement in quality of the product manufactured by the organisation.
- Process improvement in methods of production.
- Betterment of workplace
- Ensuring occupational health and safety. (Development of employees participating in QC)
- Promoting morale of employees and motivating them.
- Respect humanity and create a happy workplace worthwhile to work.
Important features of a Quality Circle
The main features of QC can be listed as follows:
1. Voluntary Groups: QC is a voluntary group of employees generally coming from the same work area. There is no pressure from anywhere on employees to join QC.
2. Small Size: The size of the QC is generally small consisting of six to eight members.
3. Regular Meeting: QC meetings are held once a week for about an hour on regular basis. The members meet during working hours usually at the end of the working day in consultation with the manager. The time of the meetings is usually fixed in advance in consultation with the manager and members.
4. Independent Agenda: Each QC has its own agenda with its own terms of reference. Accordingly, each QC discusses its own problems and takes corrective actions.
5. Quality Focused: As per the very nature and intent of QC, it focuses exclusively on quality issues. This is because the ultimate purpose of QC is an improvement in the quality of product and working life.
Formation of Quality Circle
Developing Quality Circles in Organisations/ operation flowchart of a quality circle:
2. Constitution of QC: Workers doing the same or similar type of work are drawn voluntarily to form a quality circle. The membership of a QC is generally restricted to eight to ten. Once a QC is formed, they remain as permanent members of the circle unless they leave that work area.
3. Initial Problem Solving: The members of QC should discuss the problem at threadbare and, then, prepare a list of alternative solutions. Thereafter, each alternative solution should be evaluated and the final solution should be arrived at on the basis of consensus.
4. Presentation and Approval of Suggestions:
The final solution arrived at should be presented to the management (it may be a quality council) either in oral or in written form. The management may evaluate the solution by constituting a committee for this purpose. The committee may also meet the members of the quality circle for clarifications if required. Presentation of solutions to the management helps improve the communication between management and workers and reflects management’s interest to the members of QC.
5. Implementation:
Once the suggestion or solution is approved by the management, the same is being put into practice in a particular workplace. Quality circles may be organized gradually for other workplaces or departments also. In this way, following above outlined process, the entire organisation can have quality circles.
Duties of Circle Leader
- For the success of Quality Circles, circle leader must have following duties:
- He must assume the responsibility of guiding the members.
- He must make his members sure about what is going on.
- He must channelize the discussions.
- Every member is allowed equal opportunity.
- Specific task to be assigned to each member.
- He must work in coordination with the facilitator.
Also read: Quality Controller’s Job profile in Clothing Industry
Quality Circle: How it differs from the Quality Council
The different role and activities of the quality council and the quality circle is explained in the following tables.
About the Author: Aditya Mahapatra is a graduate in Apparel Production Management and currently pursuing his master degree in NIFT, Delhi. He has expertise in PMTS and has experience in the province of production in India and abroad. His main interest areas include PPC, Industrial Engineering, PMTS, Ergonomics in the garment industry.
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