- Introduction

Rakuten’s Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative is a bottom-up kaizen strategy established in 2016, emphasizing talent development, productivity, and quality improvement. The QCC activities follow an eight-step problem-solving process based on the concept of hypothesize, practice, and validate, Shikumika being one of the five principles for success from the Rakuten Group. With over 3,000 employees participating, the initiative has significantly impacted both profits and talent development, contributing over 1.7 billion yen to profits and elevating the skills of participating employees by an average of 28 percent more than their counterparts who have not taken part in QCCs.

The diverse range of QCC activities undertaken by Rakuten includes tackling advanced problem-solving challenges, engaging in cross-organization teamwork, and involving external stakeholders. Notably, one of the remarkable QCC efforts was the mass vaccination project, where new graduates were deployed to various sites to achieve a target of 5,000 doses per day, each with a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination. Through rigorous QCC activities, including analysis of root causes from multiple perspectives using fishbone diagrams, the team achieved an average time of three minutes 30 seconds per person, surpassing their target. This success showcases the profound impact of QCC initiatives and the culture of continuous improvement embedded within the Rakuten Group.

- Rachten's Quality Control Circle

Rachten's Quality Control Circle (QCC) is a bottom-up Kaizen initiative that focuses on fostering talent development, alongside productivity and quality improvement. The QCC activities are designed to solve problems by following eight steps based on the concept of hypothesis or practice, of which validate (shikumika) is one of the five principles for success from the Rak-10 Sugi. This initiative was launched in 2016, and as of 2021, over 3,000 employees have participated, working in teams to solve workplace issues.

The impact of QCC activities on the company’s performance is significant, with a total contribution of over 1.7 billion yen to profits. Moreover, employees who joined QCCs experienced an average improvement in their skills by 28% compared to those who did not participate. The QCC activities are diverse, with a focus on taking on challenges that require advanced problem-solving. This can include cross-organizational team QCCs, where participants work across organizations to solve key issues concerning the wider Rachten Group, or problem-solving efforts involving external stakeholders.

One remarkable example of the effectiveness of Rachten's QCC is its mass vaccination project. This project involved QCC activities carried out by 2021 new grads who were sent to various sites with the goal of achieving 5,000 doses per day and a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination. The project included QCC training, presentations, and yokoten with other locations, and the team successfully achieved the target with an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person.

- Impact of QCC Activities

The Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative implemented by Rachten's, a Japanese company, has had a significant impact on talent development, productivity, and quality improvement. The QCC activities are structured around an eight-step process based on the concept of "hypothesize of practice" and the principle of "validate shikumika." Since its launch in 2016, over 3,000 employees have participated in the initiative, working collaboratively in teams to solve workplace challenges. This collective effort has contributed over 1.7 billion yen to the company's profits and has resulted in substantial skill improvements for employees involved in QCCs, with an average development increase of 28 percent compared to those who have not participated.

Moreover, the QCC initiative has allowed Rachten's to undertake diverse problem-solving challenges. This includes cross-organization team QCCs, where participants work across organizational boundaries to address critical issues concerning the broader company, as well as problem-solving efforts involving external stakeholders. One notable example is the QCC effort for Rachten's mass vaccination project. The QCC activities, which involved new graduates, aimed to achieve 5,000 doses per day with a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination. Through systematic training, presentations, and data analysis, the team successfully achieved their target, demonstrating the tangible impact of QCC activities on addressing complex organizational challenges.

- Range of QCC Activities

The Rackten Group provides a wide range of Quality Control Circle (QCC) activities, emphasizing advanced problem-solving and innovation. These activities aim to foster talent development, productivity improvements, and quality enhancement within the organization. One significant aspect of their QCC initiative is their approach to taking on challenges that require advanced problem-solving. This involves cross-organizational team QCCs, where participants work across different parts of the organization to tackle key issues concerning the broader Rackten Group. Additionally, the group engages in problem-solving efforts that involve external stakeholders, demonstrating their commitment to collaborative problem-solving and continuous improvement.

A pertinent example of their QCC activities is the effort undertaken for Rackten's mass vaccination project. As part of this initiative, new graduates were sent to various sites with the goal of achieving 5,000 doses per day and a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination. Through QCC training, presentations, and yokoten with other locations, the team rigorously measured vaccination lead times daily, evaluated the data scientifically, and analyzed root causes from multiple perspectives, utilizing tools such as fishbone diagrams. As a result, the team achieved their target with an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person, showcasing the effectiveness of QCC activities in driving tangible improvements.

- QCC Effort for Rachten's Mass Vaccination Project

The QCC effort for Rachten's Mass Vaccination Project exemplifies the company's commitment to utilizing Quality Control Circles to address complex challenges. In 2021, Rachten's initiated a QCC project to facilitate mass vaccinations, employing 2021 new grads dispatched to various sites with the objective of achieving 5,000 doses daily and a lead time of fewer than 4 minutes per vaccination. The project commenced with QCC training and presentations, followed by yokoten with other locations, emphasizing the collaborative nature of QCC activities.

Daily measurements of vaccination lead times were conducted, accompanied by rigorous scientific evaluations of the data and root cause analyses from multiple perspectives, utilizing fishbone diagrams. The team's dedication and systematic approach led to significant improvements, as they were able to achieve their target, boasting an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person. This successful QCC endeavor highlights the potential of these initiatives in driving tangible results, reinforcing Rachten's position as a proactive and socially responsible organization.

- Achievements and Future of QCC Activities

The Rachten's Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative has demonstrated significant achievements since its launch in 2016. With over 3,000 employees participating as of 2021, the QCC has proven to be instrumental in talent development, productivity, and quality improvement. Members work in teams to address workplace challenges, contributing over 1.7 billion yen to profits through their activities. Employees engaged in QCCs have shown an average improvement in their skills by 28% compared to their counterparts who have not participated, highlighting the initiative's impact on talent development within the organization.

One notable example of the success of QCC activities is the mass vaccination project undertaken by Rachten in 2021. New graduates were involved in QCC activities aimed at achieving 5,000 doses per day with a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination. Through rigorous training, presentations, and yokoten, the team was able to significantly improve their performance, ultimately achieving an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person. This success reflects the effectiveness of QCC activities in driving tangible improvements within the company.

Moving forward, Rachten is committed to continuing its QCC activities, recognizing the potential for further empowerment of the company and society as a whole. The culture of improvement fostered through QCCs is firmly taking root in the company, paving the way for ongoing advancements and contributions to broader societal progress.

Highlight

The Rakuten Group's Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative is a bottom-up kaizen approach focused on talent development, productivity, and quality improvement. QCC activities follow an eight-step process based on the concept of "hypothetical practice" and "validate shikumika." Since its launch in 2016, over 3,000 employees have participated in QCC activities, contributing over 1.7 billion yen to profits. Furthermore, employees who joined QCCs were able to improve their skills by an average of 28 percent more than those who did not participate.

The initiative encompasses a variety of activities, including advanced problem-solving challenges, cross-organization team QCCs, and problem-solving efforts involving external stakeholders. One notable example is the QCC effort for Rakuten's mass vaccination project, where new grads were sent to various sites to achieve 5,000 doses per day with a lead time of less than 4 minutes per vaccination.

Through QCC training, presentations, and yokoten with other locations, the team successfully achieved their target with an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person. The success of QCC activities, such as the mass vaccination project, demonstrates the culture of improvement that is firmly establishing itself within Rakuten. Going forward, Rakuten aims to undertake QCC activities to empower not only the company but also society as a whole.

FAQ

Q: What is Rachten's Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative?

A: Rachten's Quality Control Circle is a bottom-up kaizen initiative that focuses on talent development, productivity, and quality improvement within the organization.

Q: How does the QCC initiative work?

A: QCC activities follow eight steps based on the concept of hypothesize, practice, and validate. This approach is aligned with the principles for success from the Rak-10 Sugi and aims to solve workplace problems effectively.

Q: When was the QCC initiative launched, and how many employees have participated in it?

A: The QCC initiative was launched in 2016, and as of 2021, over 3,000 employees have participated in QCC activities, working in teams to solve problems at the workplace.

Q: What impact has the QCC initiative had on the company?

A: QCC activities have contributed over 1.7 billion yen to profits and have significantly impacted talent development, with employees who joined QCCs improving their skills by an average of 28 percent more than those who have not.

Q: What types of QCC activities does the Rackten Group undertake?

A: The Rackten Group engages in a wide range of QCC activities, including advanced problem-solving challenges that may involve cross-organization team efforts and problem-solving with external stakeholders.

Q: Can you provide an example of a QCC effort undertaken by the Rackten Group?

A: An example is the QCC effort for Rachten's mass vaccination project, where QCC activities were carried out to achieve specific targets within stringent lead time requirements. This involved extensive training, presentations, yokoten, and continuous improvement efforts.

Q: What results were achieved through the QCC activities for the mass vaccination project?

A: Through improvements driven by QCC activities, the team achieved the target with an average time of three minutes and 30 seconds per person, showcasing the effectiveness of the QCC approach.

Q: How is the culture of improvement through QCCs impacting the company?

A: The culture of improvement through QCCs is steadily taking root in the minds of Rachten's employees, and the company is committed to undertaking QCC activities that empower not only the company itself but society as a whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rachten's Quality Control Circle (QCC) initiative has proven to be a successful bottom-up kaizen approach that focuses on talent development, productivity, and quality improvement. The QCC activities undertaken by the Racten group have not only contributed significantly to profits but have also had a positive impact on talent development, with participating employees showing a marked improvement in their skills. The diverse range of QCC activities, including cross-organization team efforts and problem-solving projects involving external stakeholders, demonstrates the breadth and depth of the initiative's influence. The success of specific projects, such as the mass vaccination project, highlights the tangible outcomes of the QCC activities. Overall, the culture of improvement fostered by QCCs is becoming ingrained within the Racten group and signifies a commitment to empowering both the company and society at large.