Quality Circles are an appropriate World Class Manufacturing intervention to drive improved performance and safety in the automotive industry. The aim of the programme was to facilitate and encourage an improved focus on QC as a robust mechanism that supports continuous improvement and thus enhanced competitiveness at firms. All firm participants involved in the sessions would be able to facilitate a QC Programme at their firms. The DAC would also provide the necessary additional follow-up support to ensure this.

Enrolment in the programme meant that firms committed to the following:

• Attend all three days of the session, after which each participant received an attendance certificate
• There should be a commitment / willingness / intention from the participating firm to establish an operational QC Programme
• All attendees were required to do some project work prior to the third session