The role of quality control circles on new product development: A case study of Thailand

AbstractThe quality control circle (QCC) is a well-known quality management tool, and it has been widely adopted in the manufacturing industry. However, there is a lack of literature on the relationship between the role of QCC practices and new product development (NPD). This study investigates how a firm’s achievement of new product introduction is related to the adoption and QCC experience sharing within a firm and with customers/suppliers. Survey data from 1,381 Thai manufacturing firms were collected and used to examine the research hypotheses using logistic regression analysis. The findings show that the firms that operate a QCC, disseminate QCC experiences across departments within the firm, and share QCC experiences with customers and suppliers are more likely to introduce a new product by packaging redesign and by significantly improving existing products. Sharing knowledge and experience of QCC groups facilitates the creation of innovative ideas, which influences the success of NPD. It provides n...