What is a QCC?

A Quality Control Circle, or QCC, is a small group of people who work together to identify, analyse and solve workplace quality problems. The original article describes groups of three to ten volunteers. QC Circle activities began in Japan in 1962 and have since spread internationally.

QCC activities respect individual contributions, improve communication, develop members’ capabilities and create a more positive workplace. They also help make effective quality-management methods part of everyday work.

Benefits of QCC activities

People are more likely to take ownership of their work when they can contribute to decisions about how it is performed. QCC activities can therefore:

• Contribute to organisational development.
• Create a workplace where people and the value of their work are respected.
• Develop the potential of people throughout the organisation.
• More specific benefits include:
• Build members’ knowledge and skills through training and practical problem solving.
• Improve communication among team members and between employees and supervisors.
• Develop quality awareness and problem-solving competence, supporting better products and services.
• Reduce waste and improve productivity and quality awareness, with potential benefits for employee earnings where improvements are shared.

How a QCC operates

A QCC develops problem-solving capability as well as delivering project results. The approach can be used in production, service, business management and research and development. Participation can improve the working environment while supporting productivity and quality.

QCC consulting and training services

ITVC Global offers QCC consulting to help businesses establish practical, small-group improvement activities.

The consulting scope includes:

1. Review the organisation’s current situation.

2. Train the improvement teams in QCC methods.

3. Guide selected, feasible QCC projects.

4. Support the continuation of QCC activities within the business.

Course: Quality improvement through QC Circles

• Training duration: two to three days.
• Intended participants: Company leaders, improvement-team members, department managers, team leaders and quality personnel.

Course content

Part 1: Understanding Quality Control Circles

1.1. Introductions: course, instructor and participants.

1.2. What is quality control?

1.3. Origins and development of QCC activities.

1.4. QCC definition, purpose and benefits.

1.5. Main QCC activities.

Part 2: Introduction to seven QC tools

1. Check sheets.

2. Charts.

3. Cause-and-effect diagrams.

4. Pareto charts.

5. Histograms.

6. Scatter diagrams.

7. Control charts.

Part 3: Conducting QCC activities

Form the QCC team and assign the leader and members.

Implement the QCC project through the following steps.

3.1. Select a project topic.

• Evaluate and select a suitable QCC topic.
• Exercise 1: Identify and select a project.

3.2. Understand the current situation.

• Steps for investigating the baseline situation.
• Use Pareto analysis to identify priorities; the 80/20 relationship is a guide, not a guaranteed distribution.
• Exercise 2: Investigate the project’s current situation.

3.3. Analyse the current situation.

• Purpose of baseline analysis.
• Steps in analysing the baseline.
• Exercise 3: Analyse the project situation.

3.4. Set SMART project objectives.

• Exercise 4: Define objectives and the activity plan.

3.5. Plan activities using 5W2H.

3.6. Analyse root causes.

• Steps in root-cause analysis.
• Use fishbone diagrams and the Five Whys to investigate causes.
• Exercise 5: Identify root causes of the problem.

3.7. Select countermeasures and take action.

• Selection steps and criteria for countermeasures.
• Assess potential problems with the proposed countermeasures and define actions.
• Exercise 6: Identify and select countermeasures.

3.8. Check effectiveness, standardise and manage daily.

• Tangible and intangible results.
• Standardise the process after implementing countermeasures.
• Use visual management to maintain the changes.
• Deploy countermeasures where appropriate.
• Exercise 7: Standardisation and visual management.

3.9. Review the activity and identify the next project.

3.10. Plan subsequent QCC activities.

Part 4: A practical QCC project example

Part 5: Questions and answers

Part 6: Final assessment and course close

Programme notes

• The programme duration is indicative. The instructor may adjust module timing to the participants’ needs and the actual progress of the class.