Q

QC Circles

See Quality Circles

QCD

Quality, Cost, Delivery. The three elements of customer demand which must be satisfied.

QCDSM

Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety, Morale. A balanced set of metrics of performance that take the team's well-being into account as well as the customer.

QC Story

An approach to visualize the structured problem-solving approach used in TQM, TQC and QC Circles. The QC Story follows the PDCA cycle, often through an with to ten step process that tells the full story from selection of the topic to complete resolution.

See also A3 Problem Solving

See also Quality Circles

See also PDCA Cycle

QC Storyline

See QC Story

QFD

See Quality Function Deployment

Quality Circles

Small teams of frontline employees that meet on a regular basis to address on quality issues and other problems in their work area. Quality circles learn and apply the 7 QC Tools and perform experiments following the PDCA cycle. Quality circles were a core part of Total Quality Control (TQC) which laid the foundation for Lean management. Quality circles help build stable and reliable processes, an engaged workforce and continuous improvement at Japanese companies.

Quality Function Deployment

An approach to visualize the structured problem-solving approach used in TQM, TQC and QC Circles. The QC Story follows the PDCA cycle, often through an eith to ten step process that tells the full story from selection of the topic to complete resolution.

See also A3 Problem Solving

See also Quality Circles

See also PDCA Cycle

Quality Maintenance

The sixth pillar of TPM that aims to establish zero defect conditions. Quality Maintenance does this by understanding and controlling the interactions of manpower, material, machines and methods inputs and how they affect quality.

Queue Time

The time it takes that a person, signal, or thing waits before it is given attention by the process they are waiting for.

Queueing Theory

The mathematical study of people, material or information that wait in lines or queues.

Quick Changeover

The ability to change from product or task A to product or task B with minimal downtime, due to preparation, coordination, clear standards and quick-change devices and tools.

Quick Win

An improvement or savings achieved in a short time or with little effort.