DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITY CIRCLE AND LEAN QUALITY CIRCLE

Sl. No Particulars Quality Circle

1 Concept The main objective of Quality Circles is “self”
and mutual development, cohesive team
work and engaged in continuous
improvement activities, thus improving their
quality of work life”.
2 Identification of QC Members with the help of Round Robin
Problem Method, try to identify their own day to
daywork related problems which are of a
recurring nature.

3 Problem Identified problems are segregated into A, B

Selection & C categories. “A” simple problem is taken
first, and “C” the toughest problem will be
taken at the end of “B” type of problems.

4 Meetings We all know that QC’s have periodic regular

meetings to discuss, analyse and final
solutions to the problems on a pre-fixed
schedule.
5 Problem QC’s follow the 12 steps methodology
Selection evolved by us, starting from identification of
Solving Steps problems to solution, implementation, follow
up and review.

6 Approval of Project will have to be approved by the

project Steering Committee or the executives
nominated by the Steering Committee.
7 Gains In the case of QC’s, the whole objective is to
“develop people”. In other words, self and
mutual development through QC activities.
Hence, the focus is not in terms of how
much money is gained through the project /
problem solving.
TY CIRCLE AND LEAN QUALITY CIRCLE
Lean Quality Circle
LQC is applied to turn out large number of small projects to
meet company’s objective / goal. Hence this is an acid test
for those who have formed QC for their self and mutual
development and have learnt to analyse and solve the
problem.
In LQC, problems can be taken from the problem bank.
Instant problem can also be taken. LQC mainly concentrates
to take the project resulting in value addition or reduction /
elimination of different types of wastes aligned to company’s
goals.
Anyone can select the problem from problem bank or with
his / her own initiative any problem relating to loss of
quality, production loss, wastage reduction, non value adding
processes etc and consensus arrived at.

Generally LQC members discuss their problems at the work

place where the problem has occurred. Meetings are based
on project needs., it may be even three times in a day.

In the case of LQC’s, they will follow the 5steps of DMAIC

approach: That is:
(i) Defining of Problem
(ii) Measure the Problem
(iii) Analyse the problem to find out the root cause.
(iv) Suggest improvement (solution)
(v) Control it by not allowing it to slip back.
LQC’s, project also will have to be approved by the Steering
Committee or the executives nominated by the Steering
Committee.
In the case of LQC’s, it is directly measurable with respect to
organizational goals in terms of not only process
improvement, but also improvements in quality, cost
reduction and faster delivery. So this reflects on the bottom
line gains.