Adaptation of the QRQC Methodology to a Manual Intensive Industry

Purpose – This study aimed to reduce the response time to quality issues on a manual intensive industry by adapting and implementing the Quick Response Quality Control methodology (QRQC) to the enterprise context.
Design/methodology/approach – The case described took place on the assembly line of a precision optical devices company, a manual intensive industry, to understand if this method can have the same good results in other industry fields, that may not have the same characteristics as the automotive industry.
Findings – The QRQC methodology acts as problem solving mechanism, alternative to the 8D, in the scope of managing sporadic problems. The pilot implementation occurred during a time frame of five weeks. Four problems were solved during the period undergoing the thinking process and tools provided in the methodology. The study was able to reduce the internal rejection rate in 72%, from 5% to 1.4% and the response time for solving problems from 56.7% to 100%.
Originality/value – The QRQC is a not well-known methodology with scarce literature around the topic. A limiting factor described by most studies is the lack of bibliographic material that serves as a guide for potential researchers, particularly outside the automotive sector. The work intents to enrich a field of knowledge that has potential for the development of considerable improvements in the operational and administrative procedures of organizations.

Quality Management, Quick Response Quality Control (QRQC), Performance Indicators, Problem Solving.