Quality Circles were started in Japan-1962 (Kaoru Ishikawa has been credited for creating Quality Circles) as another method of improving quality. The movement in Japan was coordinated by the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE). Prof.Ishikawa, who believed in tapping the creative potential of workers, innovated the Quality Circle movement to give Japanese Industry that extra edge in creativity. The practice of it is recommended by many economist/business scholars.
A quality control circle is a small group of workers who come together to discuss ways of identifying, analyzing, solving, and selecting work related issues. More than 95% of work related problems can be resolved using various QC tools. Some of the tools used are the cause and effect diagram, check sheets, scatter diagram, control charts, pareto diagrams, stratification, histograms, and graphs. This can not only improve the performance of any organization, but also motivate and enrich the work life of employees. Its main objective is to improve the quality of work life and environment.
Objectives of QCC are:
- To create a pleasant working environment through:
- Improved Morale
- Improved Interpersonal Relationship
- Better Teamwork
- Better Communication
- To Upgrade Personnel through:
- Training on Problem-Solving Techniques
- Increasing Individual’s Knowledge and Creativity
- To Motivate Workforce through:
- Opportunities for Employees to Utilize Their Talents
- Recognition Given for Achievements
- To Improve Overall Company Performance in the Long Term through:
- Higher Productivity
- Better Quality Products/Services
- Smoother Workflow
- Reduced Costs, Increase Revenue.