Quality Circles

Quality circle is a group of  labor  and management who belong to a single department, do same or similar work , meet periodically to discuss unanalyzed manufacturing problems (for about and hour per week in paid time), and find solutions to quality problems.

QCs improve the quality of products an the work atmosphere as members feel they are an important part of the organization who can positively contribute to product quality. Though initially started in the manufacturing area, the concept of QCs widely applies in service sector also.

Quality circles are regular short meetings that help to solve work-related problems.

•    5-10 people attend the meeting in work time.
•    Supervisor is nominated and he runs the meeting
•    Flip charts, audio-visual equipment, notice boards etc. are utilized
•    Problem areas are put forward by the  group
•    Problems are prioritized
•    Information is collected; ideas are generated via brainstorming and force-field analysis.
•    Effectiveness, costs , savings, consequences to other departments etc. are considered
•    Final solution is put forward to manager and implemented by the quality circles:

Objectives of Quality Circles:

 Following are the objectives of Quality Circles:

     (a)  To improve the quality of products.
     (b)  To improve productivity of the firm.
     (c)  To develop a sense of confidence in the workers that they can solve their own
             Problems.
     (d)  To improve employees’ morale.
     (e)  To improve employees’ job satisfaction.
     (f)    To develop the personality of employees by making them aware of their importance in theory
            related areas and work atmosphere.
     (g)  To improve interpersonal relationship between management and workers.
     (h)  To improve employees’ motivation and communication within theorgnaisaton.

 Benefits of Quality Circles:

Quality circles have the following benefits:

     (a)  They focus on improving product quality in a planned way.
     (b)  They train employees to identify their problem, find solutions and implement
           them without seeking the advice of technical experts.
     (c)  They satisfy members’ higher-order needs of recognition and self-actualization.
     (d)  They improve members’ participation in work-related organizational problem
            and enhance their job satisfaction.
     (e)  They promote productivity, efficiency, cost reduction, design, testing safety etc.
           Of the products.

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