A new analytical approach for continuous improvement evaluation: A national presentation case

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a new approach for analyzing evaluation data to determine a team's (sometimes called circle) improvement ability and the characteristics of evaluators by using the data from the national Quality Control Circle (QCC) presentations in Taiwan. Most evaluations of the QCC presentation use the itemized rating method or the duplex-pole evaluation method. The former has the negative effects of canceling out the higher and lower while the latter cannot distinguish the ability type of a team. This study takes the average of the highest rating "A" as an index for superiority. Based on these indices and the K-mean method, similar ability groups and evaluator groups are generated, respectively. According to a team's improvement ability level, which is determined by the similar group to which it belongs, a proper regenerated input can be applied to sustain continuous improvement activity. In addition, knowing the characteristics of evaluators, proper solutions can be applied to improve the evaluation credibility. This paper also shows that some of the evaluation data can provide valuable information through further study, thus increasing "evaluation use".