To persons who have no knowledge about Quality Circles, the most astonishing aspect has nothing to do with Quality Control. What is astonishing is the degree to which the Japanese initiated and succeeded in harnessing the energy, ingenuity and enthusiasm of the front line employees to the numerous unsolved problems of the company - that too on a voluntary basis: employees joining, learning and doing, even outside their working hours. One of the important side benefits from teaching everyone to be a problem-finder and solver at their level is that the organisation becomes ready for changes, challenges and breakthrough.

Over a period of time, many of the operations and processes tend to become fixed; the equipments, materials, procedures, processes and practices get into a routine and rut - leading to monotony, boredom and even oppressive to the job performers. By providing to the groups of employees opportunities to learn and apply problem-solving process, tools and techniques, it neutralizes problems of work monotony and also solves work related problems. The organisation gets into a mode for constant search for solutions to problems, improvements, better ways - the people will be more alert and ready to the introduction of new ideas, challenges and changes.

Above all this ability to think, plan and function helps them to face the challenges of personal life confidently and successfully.

The Quality Circle members, before, during and after their meetings learn and use a process for problem solving, systematically, with use of appropriate techniques and tools at different steps in the process. QCFI has developed a 12-step process that is found useful and effective. As part of this, 10 techniques are also to be learnt and used by the Circle members.