What is QuaIity CircIe (QC)?

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. n 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 QuaIity CircIes
O Small Groups
O Action Circles
O Excellence Circles
O Human Resources Circles
O Productivity Circles
Objectives of QuaIity CircIes
O Promote job involvement
O Create problem solving capability
O mprove communication
O Promote leadership qualities
O Promote personal development
O Develop a greater awareness for cleanliness
O Develop greater awareness for safety
O mprove morale through closer identity of employee objectives with organization's objectives
O Reduce errors.
O Enhance quality
O nspire more effective team work
O Build an attitude of problem prevention
O Promote cost reduction
O Develop harmonious manager, supervisor and worker relationship
O mprove productivity
O Reduce downtime of machines and equipment
O ncrease employee motivation
QuaIity CircIe Meetings
O Meetings are important part of quality circle's working.
O Meetings are attended by all the members of the quality circle.
O n general, meetings take place once a week or once in a fortnight.
O Each meeting lasts for approximately one hour, though variations are possible.
O Apart from the frequency of the meetings, what is important is the regularity of the meetings.
What Takes PIace During QuaIity CircIe Meetings?

Any of the several activities may occur during a meeting such as:
O dentifying a theme or a problem to work on.
O Getting training as required to enable members to analyze problems.
O Analyzing problem(s).
O Preparing recommendations for implementing solution(s).
O Follow up of implementation of suggestions.
O Prepare for a presentation to the management.
What QuaIity CircIes are Not? (Misconcepts)
O Quality Circles do not tackle just quality problems.
O Quality Circle is not a substitute or replacement for task forces, product committees, joint
plant councils or works committees, quality assurance department, suggestion schemes.
O Quality Circles do not change the existing organizational structure or the chain of command.
O Quality Circles are not a forum for grievances or a spring board for demands.
O Quality Circles are not a means for the management to unload all their problems.
O Quality Circles are not just another technique.
O Quality Circles are not a panacea for all ills.
PitfaIIs and ProbIems
O Lack of faith in and support to Quality Circle activities among management personnel
O Lack of interest or incompetence of leaders/facilitator
O Apathy, fear and misunderstanding among middle level executives
O Delay or non-implementation of Circle recommendations
O rregularity of Quality Circle activities
O Non-application of simple techniques for problem solving
O Lack of or non-participation by some members in the Circle activities
O Circles running out of problems
O nadequate visibility of management support
O
O Non-maintenance of Quality Circle records
O Too much facilitation or too little
O Language difficulty in communication
O Communication gap between Circles and departmental head
O Change of management
O Confusing Quality Circle for another technique
O Resistance from trade unions
$tructure of QuaIity CircIes Program

$ix Basic Elements
O Circle participants or members.
O Circle leaders/deputy leaders.
O Program facilitator.
O Steering/advisory committee.
O Top management.
O Potential members and non-participating management/members.
#oles and #esponsibilities of Various Elements

#oles of Members
O Focus on organizational objectives through the theme(s) selected for one's quality circle
O Theme/problem should be related to work.
O Do not bring in the personal issues or problems as the themes of quality circles.
O Demonstrate mutual respect.
O Take training in all the aspects of quality circles.
O Acquire the necessary skills in various quality circle tools and techniques.
O Participate wholeheartedly in problem-solving process by giving ideas and views voluntarily
and suggesting the solutions.
O Attend all the meetings of quality circle. When unavoidable to attend the meeting, seek prior
permission of the quality circle leader.
O Participate in implementing the finalized solutions.
#oles of Leaders
O Decide date and time of each quality circle meeting and inform to all the members.
O Ensure maximum attendance of all the members in the meetings.
O Conduct the meetings effectively.
O Motivate the members for their full participation in the proceedings of quality circle meetings
and related activities.
O Facilitate the members in data collection.
O Maintain the records of quality circles meetings and other related activities.
O nteract with other quality circle leaders.
O nteract with the quality circle facilitator frequently.
O Make presentations of solutions to the management. nvolve the members in making the
presentations.
O Seek management approvals of the solutions.
O Ensure implementation of the approved solutions with the active involvement of the members.
O Arrange first time training and later on, the refresher training of the members and self in the
quality circles group process