2. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Zahid Khan
QA/QC Engineer
Haier & Ruba (pvt.) ltd. (AC Factory)
19.5 km Raiwind Road, Lahore-Pakistan
AC QUALITY CIRCLE
3. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
“It is better for one hundred people to take one step than for
one person to take a hundred”
- The Japanese description
Quality Circle
4. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Overview
2 Characteristics of Quality Circle
3 Personal Benefits
4 What are the Advantages?
5 Who works for Quality Circles?
7 Process of Operation
8 Problems with Quality Circles
9 How it can be used in Organization?
PDCA
1 What are Quality Circles?
6 How Do Quality Circles Work?
Discussion And Conclusion
10
11
5. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Quality Circle is a small group of 3 to 10/12 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”.
In Short Quality Circle is a problem solving technique
using basic 7-QC Tools, as 95% of the problems in the
workshop can be solved through 7-QC Tools
Quality Circle
6. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Quality circle are small primary groups of employee whose
lower limit is 3 and upper limit 10/12.
The membership of quality circle is most voluntary .
Each circle has a leader.
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.
Characteristics of Quality Circle
7. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
The Benefits of Quality Circles are multi-faced:
a) Attitude
b) Participation
c) Communication
d) Awareness
e) Self development
f) Team Spirit
g) Improvement in PR
h) Creativity
Personal Benefits
9. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Circle leader: Circle leader may be from lowest level
supervisors. A circle leader organize and conduct circle
activities, may be changing with time.
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, share suggestions and ideas, participate actively in
group process.The roles of Circle members are well defined.
Non-QC Members: They aren’t the permanent members of
the Circle but they support the circle if there is any problem on
their side.
Who works for Quality Circles?
10. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
All members of a Circle need to receive training
Members need to be empowered
Members need to have the support of their Seniors
Characteristics
Volunteers
Set Rules and Priorities
Decisions made by Consensus
Use of organized approaches to Problem-Solving
“Brain storming” and “Data Collection & Analysis” are
the most commonly used techniques to analyze and
solve work related problems
How Do Quality Circles Work?
11. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Using 7-QC Tools:
Ishikawa, when developing this concept always believed that everybody
should be properly trained to use the 7 Tools of Quality Control:
1. Pareto Charts
2. Cause and Effect Diagrams
3. Stratification
4. Check Sheets
5. Histograms
6. Scatter Diagrams
7. Control Charts and Graphs
He also believed that the circles should be empowered enough to see their
recommendations through. Along with empowerment, it is expected to
have management support. Many times Circles have collapsed due
management lack of interest or interference.
How Do Quality Circles Work? (Cont…)
12. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
1. Problem identification: Identify a number & type of
problems.
2. Problem selection: Decide the priority and select the
problem to be taken up first.
3. Problem Analysis: Problem is clarified and analyzed by
basic problem solving methods.
4. Generate alternative solutions: Identify and evaluate causes
and generate number of possible alternative solutions.
5. Select the most appropriate solution: Discuss and evaluate
the alternative solutions by comparisons. This enables to select
the most appropriate solution
Process of Operation
13. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
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 manager for approval by conducting a Review
of the Project.
8. Implementation of solution: The manager evaluates the
recommended solution. Then it is tested and if successful,
implemented on a full scale.
Process of Operation (cont…)
14. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Inadequate Training
Unsure of Purpose
Not truly Voluntary
Lack of Management Interest
Quality Circles are not really empowered to make
decisions
Problems with Quality Circles
15. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Increase Productivity
Improve Quality
Boost Employee Morale
Quality Circles can be used in any organization, whether it is
Manufacturing, Service, Health Care, Education, etc.
They can be used to increase productivity…as an example, members
can develop ways to decrease lead times for products.
They can be used to help improve quality of services as well as
products. If there are issues, members can analyze the process and
come up with solutions to make it better. This will improve quality and
likely increase productivity as well.
How Can They be Used in an Organization?
16. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Plan-Do-Check-Act:
The Deming cycle: Originally developed by
Walter Shewart, but renamed in 1950s
because Deming promoted it extensively.
Plan – Study the current system; identifying
problems; testing theories of causes; and
developing solutions.
Do – Plan is implemented on a trial basis.
Data collected and documented.
Check – Determine whether the trial plan is
working correctly by evaluating the results.
Act – Improvements are standardized and
final plan is implemented.
PDCA
17. Inspiring Chill
AC QC
Following observation will be achieved after implementation of
Quality Circle:
• Improvement personal relationships within the organization
• Self-confidence develops in solving more complex problem related
to manufacturing/production.
• A good teamwork achieves among the workmen.
• Material wastage minimizes as a result heavy monetary gain can
be obtained.
• Creates a degree of mobile expertise in problem solving within the
company.
• Solutions are sought for the corporate good rather than to shift
blame.
• The sustenance of success will lead to total quality improvement
emerging as a centre of excellence of its own in any enterprise.
Discussion And Conclusion