Quality Circles By : Terri Spahr

Overview  What are Quality Circles?  How Do Quality Circles Work?  How Can They be Used in an Organization?  Example and Activity  Problems with Quality Circles  Summary of History and Practices  Bibliography

What is a Quality Circle? Voluntary groups of employees who work on similar tasks or share an area of responsibilityVoluntary groups of employees who work on similar tasks or share an area of responsibility They agree to meet on a regular basis to discuss & solve problems related to work.They agree to meet on a regular basis to discuss & solve problems related to work. They operate on the principle that employee participation in decision- making and problem-solving improves the quality of workThey operate on the principle that employee participation in decision- making and problem-solving improves the quality of work

How Do Quality Circles Work? CharacteristicsCharacteristics –Volunteers –Set Rules and Priorities –Decisions made by Consensus –Use of organized approaches to Problem-Solving

How Do Quality Circles Work? All members of a Circle need to receive trainingAll members of a Circle need to receive training Members need to be empoweredMembers need to be empowered Members need to have the support of Senior ManagementMembers need to have the support of Senior Management

How Can They be Used in an Organization? Increase ProductivityIncrease Productivity Improve QualityImprove Quality Boost Employee MoraleBoost Employee Morale

Real World Example At Penn State University in 1983, a Quality Circle was formed by Professor Hirshfield, a Professor of East Asia History.At Penn State University in 1983, a Quality Circle was formed by Professor Hirshfield, a Professor of East Asia History. –Selected 8 Students from a large lecture class –Resulted in increased involvement from the class

Team Exercise Break down into teams of 6-8 peopleBreak down into teams of 6-8 people Establish a leader and rules for your CircleEstablish a leader and rules for your Circle Have a brainstorming and problem-solving session to resolve the issue on the next slideHave a brainstorming and problem-solving session to resolve the issue on the next slide

Team Exercise A Collegiate class on Statistical Analysis has a total enrollment of 45 people.A Collegiate class on Statistical Analysis has a total enrollment of 45 people. Average attendance is 18 studentsAverage attendance is 18 students The class consists mainly of lecturesThe class consists mainly of lectures How can the professor of this class improve the quality of this course and increase student involvement?How can the professor of this class improve the quality of this course and increase student involvement?

Problems with Quality Circles Inadequate TrainingInadequate Training Unsure of PurposeUnsure of Purpose Not truly VoluntaryNot truly Voluntary Lack of Management InterestLack of Management Interest Quality Circles are not really empowered to make decisions.Quality Circles are not really empowered to make decisions.

Summary of History and Practices Quality Circles were first seen in the United States in the 1950’sQuality Circles were first seen in the United States in the 1950’s Circles were developed by Dr, Kaoru Ishikawa in Japan in the 1960’sCircles were developed by Dr, Kaoru Ishikawa in Japan in the 1960’s Circles were re-exported to the US in the early 1970’sCircles were re-exported to the US in the early 1970’s

Summary of History and Practices 1980’s brought Total Quality Management and a reduction in the use of Quality Circles1980’s brought Total Quality Management and a reduction in the use of Quality Circles Quality Circles can be a useful tool if used properlyQuality Circles can be a useful tool if used properly

Bibliography Cole, Robert E Managing Quality Fads: How American Business Learned to Play the Quality Game. New York, NY: Oxford Press.Cole, Robert E Managing Quality Fads: How American Business Learned to Play the Quality Game. New York, NY: Oxford Press. Aubrey, Charles A Teamwork: Involving People in Quality and Productivity Improvement. Milwaukee, WI: Quality Press.Aubrey, Charles A Teamwork: Involving People in Quality and Productivity Improvement. Milwaukee, WI: Quality Press. Foster, S. Thomas Managing Quality: An Integrative Approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Foster, S. Thomas Managing Quality: An Integrative Approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Bibliography Author Unknown Quality Circles in the Community College [online]. Available online via ed htmlAuthor Unknown Quality Circles in the Community College [online]. Available online via ed html ed html ed html Author Unknown Kaizen and Quality Circles [online]. Available online via rcles.htmlAuthor Unknown Kaizen and Quality Circles [online]. Available online via rcles.html rcles.html rcles.html