Continuous Improvement

The quest for excellence at Qatar Steel is not just a process, but also a way of life and KAIZEN does play a pivotal role in the form of the suggestion system, QC circle conference and proposal system, all these program are integrated into a system and are in alignment within the organization's business strategy.

QC-Circle
The purpose of the QC-Circle is to encourage the employees to create a new idea in order to improve working condition, safety, individual development, etc. A group of as many as ten members voluntarily perform quality control activities within the workshop to which they belong. This small group with every member participating to the full carries on continuously, as a part of company wide quality control activities.

Qatar Steel adopted QC-Circle activities in June, 1980. An intensive program by foreman and group leaders was started by giving lectures and distributing necessary written material for three months, telling them the purpose, aim and how to proceed with their QC-Circle activities. Also training was given to all engineers in order to make them familiar with QC-Circle activities so that they may give necessary guidance to their department QC-Circle when and where required. Up until now more than 588 QC-Circles have been registered each comprised of 10 – 12 members. These circles on their own or occasionally by some guidance from superiors select different problems they are facing with their job and try to solve them according to their activities and QC techniques. Normally, it takes six months to complete the QC-Circle activity.

To create interest and keenness, a competition was designed among different QC-Circles in the form of QC-Circle Conference which is held every year. The main purpose of this conference is to create a supportive atmosphere and to make a basis for future QC-Circle activities in Qatar Steel. Up till now 27 such conferences have successfully been conducted. Each Department selects their best circle to compete in the conference. The selected circles are judged according to their effectiveness by a panel of judges and are awarded with certificates of merit and prizes.

Proposal System
The purpose of this system is to encourage management and senior staff to create proposals and contribute in the development and improvement of the company. The effect of adopting the proposal should be very clear, proven technically and economically viable for practical implementation and these effects should be explained in a detailed technical report with adequate sketches and actual performance data, and approved by the department manager. The said report should include the following:

• • Situation before and after adopting the proposal
• • Technical effect (Process control, operation procedures, etc.)
• • Economic effect
• • Impacts on safety and environment if any