Quality Circles and Kaizen Award Evaluation Process Improvement in KALDER: Application of Multi-criteria Decision Making Techniques

Abstract

In this study, Quality Circles and Kaizen Award evaluation process is inspected. Awarding process has been organized by Ankara Branch of Turkish Society for Quality (KalDer) since 2008 to support the continuous improvement activities and teamwork within the companies. The effects of evaluators’ decisions on awarding process are observed. Multi-criteria decision-making techniques are applied to reduce the subjectivity caused by the evaluators. The data of 13 Kobetsu Kaizen teams (2018 awards) and 7 Kobetsu Kaizen teams (2017 awards) are used. The AHP method is used to determine the criteria weights. In the award-ranking phase, integrated AHP-GRA and AHP-TOPSIS methods are used. The sensitivity analyzes are performed, as well. It is observed that the method applied by the evaluators in face-to-face meeting will give different results, than the method applied according to the mathematical method and this will indirectly affect the award ranking results in terms of equity and fairness.