Research on quality in Japan has emphasized technical issues, but there is much to be learned from more organizational elements. Presents material from major Japanese corporations on the role of the centre in quality, the organizing of quality training, and long‐term planning for quality. The...

Explores the perceptions of different dimensions of quality which employees at different levels in the organization have, and investigates how these perceptions can be aligned to increase firms’ competitive position. Uses a factor analytic approach. “Communication”, “managerial...

Examines the successful implementation of quality circle programmes in manufacturing firms. Presents work carried out during a research project undertaken to analyse the difficulties manufacturers and quality managers presently face in implementing successful quality circle programmes and...

Asserts that the concept of quality circle autonomy includes the issues of members’ development, relations with middle managers and supervisors, determining time of meetings, evaluating suggestions, selecting discussion topics, applying solutions and electing leaders. Investigates these...

The essence of the lessons from Japanese industry are abstracted so that it is possible to relate productivity increases with quality improvement and establish the role of the QC circle.

This article presents an extensive up‐to‐date list of selective references on quality circles.

One problem in studying quality circles (QCs) is the shortage of objective measures of success. Another is the fact that many previous studies have been longitudinal but based on only one site. Presents results of a large sample of over 5,000 QCs which capture some longitudinal aspects of...

Quality control circles, a Japanese management technique for improving quality, productivity, and worker morale, have been widely adopted in western industry. The apparent hope is that the circles are a key to competing with the Japanese. In this article QC circles are shown to resemble, and...

Certain Japanese techniques have been introduced to American management; one of these is quality control circles (QCCs). The intent of this article is to address the managerial aspects of QCCs rather than to explore their internal operation. A goal programming (GP) model is proposed and run with...

Quality circles have recently been suggested as a technique for enhancing employees′ quality of work life and satisfaction with their work. This study attempts to analyse the relationships between employees′ participation in quality circles, their sense of quality of work life, perceived job...