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QC circle activities
(small-group kaizen activity)
Cataler promotes QC circle activities (small-group kaizen activity) (*) that increase customer value and improve organizational capabilities throughout the Company, not only in the manufacturing department but also the administrative department, and all domestic and overseas Cataler Group members participate in them. We also aim to develop human assets who can see things from a QC perspective.
*QC circle activities (small-group kaizen activity)
QC is an abbreviation for "Quality Control". A QC circle is a small group of people in front-line workplaces who continuously manage and improve the quality of products, services, and work. Cataler's QC circle activities are performed on a voluntary basis, and they are carried out while exercising creativity and promoting self- and mutual-education through the use of QC concepts, methods, etc.
(*Reference: from JUSE HP)
Basic Philosophy of QC Circle
-
1.Demonstrate human ability, and bring out limitless possibilities
(For oneself)
-
2.Respect humanity, and create a bright and rewarding workplace
(For the workplace)
-
3.Contribute to the improvement and development of the Company
(For the Company)
- ・Based on the core philosophy of QC Circle activities, these are positioned to enhance organizational capabilities.
- ・QC circle activities are carried out throughout the company, including administrative and indirect departments, to promote improvement and human asset development with the participation of all employees.
- ・We are developing QC circles globally to improve problem-solving skills and develop human assets.
Activity organizations
The roles of everyone from executives to front-line employees in the workplace are clearly defined, and everyone participates in QC circle activities with a sense of ownership.
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List of roles
- Facilitator
- Promoting QC circle activities as an important management activity, and orienting the activities.
- Promoter / Advisor
- Present policies to stimulate activities within sections, offices and groups, create an environment conducive to activities, and motivate them.
- Organizer
- Oversee QC circle activities within the Company, and develop, implement and follow up plans to revitalize the QC circle movement within the Company and overseas.
- Circle leader
- Outline a future vision of QC Circles, and bring the Circles together towards the goal while improving the skills of each Circle member.
- Theme leader
- Solve themes with the help of supervisors and circle members using a QC approach.
- Circle member
- Strive for self- and mutual-education, and contribute to thematic activities through teamwork.
Annual Activity Plan
Cataler has a QC circle for each division, and currently 45 circles in 22 division are active (as of August 2021). Each circle grasps the problems and issues indicated in the higher-level policies and sets improvement themes based on the concerns in the on-site operations. In principle, QC circle activities are conducted during business hours with the participation of all employees, and improvement activities are carried out using QC methods.
- Number of annual themes: 2/year (required)
- All Circles must make presentations in either the first term or the second term.
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- Number of annual themes: 2/year (required)
- All Circles must make presentations in either the first term or the second term.
Development of a QC circle training system
General training
| General Manager | ・QC facilitator training |
|---|---|
| Manager | ・QC promoter training |
| Assistant Manager | ・QC advisor training |
| Circle member | ・Leader training |
| New employee | ・QC basic learning |
Designated training / Study session (all levels)
|
- ・We have prepared 5 types of training for executives, general managers and new employees, all of which are done in-house.
- ・The training texts use many good examples of problem-solving and task-achievement within the Company, while using Cataler's own teaching materials to improve understanding.
- ・In order to meet the needs of all levels, we hold QC certification courses and QC-7 Tools study sessions, and are working to make use of QC/SQC methods in our operations.
QC Circle Award List
(From 2018 onwards)
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| Year and month | Year and month | Award (category) | Name of competition | Name of Circle | |
| 2023 | |||||
| 2023 | February | Branch-Chief Award (JHS category) | The 6433rd QC Circle Tokai Branch Grand Exchange Competition | Glokki ~ Circle (Sales Div. 2 / Sales Planning Div.) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | |||||
| 2022 | September | Best Award (JHS category) | The 6389th QC Circle Tokai Branch Champion Competition | Ebi Zanmai Circle (Procurement Div.) | |
| May | Head-of-the-District Award (JHS category) | The 6364th QC Circle Shizuoka District Satsuki Competition | Ebi Zanmai Circle (Procurement Div.) | ||
| 2021 | |||||
| 2021 | November | QC Circle Kaoru Ishikawa Encouragement Award | The 6220th QC Circle National Convention (small-group kaizen activity) -Sapporo- | Sellers' Circle (formerly Sales Function) |
|
| January | Gold Award (JHS Category) | The 6253rd QC Circle Tokai Branch Champion Competition | Telephone 5 Circles (Procurement/Production Management Function) Glokki ~ Circle (Sales Function) |
||
| 2020 | |||||
| 2020 | February | Branch Chief Award (JHS Category) | The 6207th QC Circle Tokai Branch Sponsored General and Exchange Competition | Sellers' Circle (Sales Function) |
|
| 2019 | |||||
| 2019 | December | Best Impression Award (Manufacturing Category) | The 6190th National QC Circle Competition (small-group kaizen activity) -Ginowan- | CHARITSU Circle (Production Engineering Function) |
|
| October | Prefectural Governor's Award (JHS Category) | The 6176th QC Circle Shizuoka Cosmos Blossom Festival | Telephone 5 Circles (Procurement/Production Management Function) |
||
| June | Gold Award (Management Case Study) | "The 12th All Japan Selected QC Circle Competition (small-group kaizen activity)" | Smile Circle (Corporate Management Function) |
||
| May | QC Circle Kaoru Ishikawa Encouragement Award | The 6120th National QC Circle Competition (small-group kaizen activity) -Sapporo- | Ni-SAN's Circle (Sales Function) |
||
| February | Gold Award (JHS Category) | "The 6104th QC Circle General and Exchange Competition" | Smile Circle (Corporate Management Function) |
||
| 2018 | |||||
| 2018 | December | Best Impression Award (JHS Category) | The 6090th National QC Circle Competition (small-group kaizen activity) -Ginowan- | Smile Circle (Corporate Management Function) |
|
| September | Gold Award (JHS Category) | The 6045th QC Circle Tokai Branch Champion Competition | Smile Circle (Corporate Management Function) |
||
| May | Best Impression Award (JHS Category) | The 6000th National QC Circle Competition (small-group kaizen activity) -Sapporo- | Ni-SAN's Circle (Sales Function) |
||
| May | District Chief Award (JHS Category) | The 6010th QC Circle Shizuoka District Satsuki Competition | Smile Circle (Corporate Management Function) |
||
| February | Branch Chief Award (Administrative Category) | The 6002nd QC Circle Tokai Branch Sponsored General and Exchange Competition | Ni-SAN's Circle (Sales Function) |
||