100-Metodos-de-Qualidade-Total

MANAGEMENT METHODS 67
Method 25
Quality circles
Purpose
A special type of small group activity which forms a vehicle for the
development of individuals.
When to use
Quality circles are especially useful in the later stages of a total quality
process when individuals in their own work areas begin to tackle their own
problems. They lead to self-regulation in work groups.
How to use
Quality circles are small groups of between three and 12 people who do the
same or similar work, voluntarily meeting together regularly for about an
hour per week in paid time. Usually under the leadership of their own
supervisor or manager, they are trained to identify, analyse and solve some
of the problems in their own work, wherever possible implementing the
solutions themselves.
Circle leaders and members should be trained in the following techniques:
• brainstorming
• tally charts
• concentration diagrams
• Pareto analysis
• histograms
• cause and effect analysis
• control charts
Quality circles are very different from action teams and task forces,
which are initiated by management to solve a specific problem and are
disbanded when that problem has been solved. Quality circles are formed
and trained; they then identify their own problems. When those problems
have been solved, the circle remains in place and identifies further
problems to solve.
Benefits
Quality circles give str ,
ucture and focus to improvement and allow it to
occur in a planned way, whereas simply asking for suggestions could
generate too many problems with no means to handle them.