Quality Circles are (informal) groups of employees who voluntarily meet together on a regular basis to identify, define, analyze and solve work related problems.
Usually the members of a particular team (quality circle) should be from the same work area or who do similar work so that the problems they select will be familiar to all of them. In addition, interdepartmental or cross functional quality circles may also be formed.
An ideal size of quality circle is seven to eight members. But the number of members in a quality circle can vary.
Other Names of Quality Circles
Any of the several activities may occur during a meeting such as:
From India, Madras
Usually the members of a particular team (quality circle) should be from the same work area or who do similar work so that the problems they select will be familiar to all of them. In addition, interdepartmental or cross functional quality circles may also be formed.
An ideal size of quality circle is seven to eight members. But the number of members in a quality circle can vary.
Other Names of Quality Circles
- Small Groups
- Action Circles
- Excellence Circles
- Human Resources Circles
- Productivity Circles
- Promote job involvement
- Create problem solving capability
- Improve communication
- Promote leadership qualities
- Promote personal development
- Develop a greater awareness for cleanliness
- Develop greater awareness for safety
- Improve morale through closer identity of employee objectives with organization's objectives
- Reduce errors.
- Enhance quality
- Inspire more effective team work
- Build an attitude of problem prevention
- Promote cost reduction
- Develop harmonious manager, supervisor and worker relationship
- Improve productivity
- Reduce downtime of machines and equipment
- Increase employee motivation
- Meetings are important part of quality circle's working.
- Meetings are attended by all the members of the quality circle.
- In general, meetings take place once a week or once in a fortnight.
- Each meeting lasts for approximately one hour, though variations are possible.
- Apart from the frequency of the meetings, what is important is the regularity of the meetings.
Any of the several activities may occur during a meeting such as:
- Identifying a theme or a problem to work on.
- Getting training as required to enable members to analyze problems.
- Analyzing problem(s).
- Preparing recommendations for implementing solution(s).
- Follow up of implementation of suggestions.
- Prepare for a presentation to the management.
From India, Madras
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Quality Circles.doc
TEI-Quality Circles-Aug 11.pdf