Circulos de calidad

Unit 10 QC Circles

A Roadmap to Quality 1 Unit 10 – QC Circle

CONTENTS
Unit summary Learning tools
The RADAR question The 6-Point Structure

Texts
10.1 QC Circle Activities 10.2 The human dimension to QC Circles 10.3 Introducing QC Circle activities in your company 10.4 How many employees in the company should take part in QC Circles? 10.5 Select QC Circle leaders; roles of leadersand members 10.6 The QC Story 10.7 QC Circle meetings 10.8 QC Circle assemblies 10.9 Evaluation of QC Circle activities 10.10 The basic procedures for QC Circle activities 10.11 QC Circle training 10.12 Planning future QC Circle Activities 10.13 Create the right environment for QC Circle activities: the role of the CEO 10.14 The role of middle management 10.15 Set up a company-wide organization topromote QC Circle activities 10.16 Hold QC Circle exchanges with other companies

Test

A Roadmap to Quality 2 Unit 10 – QC Circle

Unit summary

A QC Circle is a small group of frontline employees who meet regularly to try to improve the quality of their work. QC Circle activities are at the core of TQM. They can play a major role in creating a dynamic atmosphere in the workplace. 10.1 QCCircle Activities QC Circles normally take a problem-based approach to improve the quality of their work. They identify problems in their workplace, usually related to product quality and referred to as ‘themes’, and together they set about finding a solution. They use quality control concepts and techniques, and try to be creative in seeking solutions. 10.2 The human dimension to QC Circles Weall have an innate desire for personal growth. In the right conditions we get a lot of satisfaction from improving our skills, and from using our new skills, together with our coworkers, to achieve meaningful targets. QC Circles provide the right conditions. 10.3 Introducing QC Circle activities in your company Be both sensitive and creative in introducing QC Circles in your company, especiallysince their aims are to encourage the development of employees. Make sure that you take an approach that suits the working environment, and the character and climate of your company. 10.4. How many employees in the company should take part in QC Circles? Although all employees should take part in QC Circle activities, as these are a component of TQM, some companies allow departments and sections toopt out. A key decision you have to take is the scale of participation within your company. 10.5 Select QC Circle leaders; roles of leaders and members The QC Circle leaders will be the driving force behind the activities. Select people, who can show leadership, get members to cooperate in meetings, can gather ideas, and can create an atmosphere where everyone will feel free to express theiropinion. 10.6 The QC Story QC Circles use a 7-step procedure to solve problems related to the five priorities of QCDSM: quality (Q), costs (C), deadlines and productivity (D), safety (S), and morale (M). This procedure uses method based on facts and data, and aims to prevent the recurrence of problems by identifying the causes and implementing recurrence prevention rmeasures. 10.7 QC Circle meetings QCCircle meetings help members to work together towards the same goals. Members exchange ideas and information, get to know each other, and develop a spirit of cooperation and a sense of solidarity. But if the meetings are poorly managed, the activities will stagnate and members will become de-motivated. 10.8 QC Circle assemblies After a QC Circle has completed a theme, it holds a meeting, referredto as a QC Circle assembly or a QC Circle conference, to re-appraise the methods that have been used, and to confirm the circle’s sense of achievement. Members give presentations of key points from their problem resolution activities and achievements: their methods, their difficulties, and their creative ideas. A very effective way of doing this is the QC story (See also Unit 9).

A Roadmap to...