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| Author: | Watanabe, S. |
| Title: | The Japanese quality control circle : why it works. |
| Journal: | International Labour Review
1991 : VOL. 130:1, p. 57-80 |
| Index terms: | QUALITY CIRCLES JAPAN |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | The internal competitiveness of the Japanese industry - in terms of quality rather than price - is due in a large part to small but continuous improvements originating in quality circles (QCs). The cumulative effect of these low-cost "minor" modifications is thought to outweigh that of major technological innovations such as robotization. Yet despite the West's interest in most Japanese business practice, QCs have proved less popular and the most difficult to be transplanted. This may be due to various misconceptions about their true nature, including the erroneous idea that workers' motivation for participating in the circles is mainly socio-cultural, whereas in fact it is primarily economic. |
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