Twenty months into the quality circle program-was it worth it?

There has been a steady growth in quality circles (QCs) in Bellcore due to the benefits that they can bring to an organization. The author provides a management perspective of QCs based on twenty months' experience in setting them up, watching them grow, and realizing benefits. Despite the unique nature of each organization, the author describes the general success criteria for starting and sustaining a good QC program, and identifies benefits that QCs can bring to an organization which enable the organization to become more competitive. He highlights participants' feedback and discusses the lessons learned. In addition he examines the attitude change required on the part of management and nonmanagement people in order to ensure a successful QC program.<
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