TL;DR: Quality Circles are still thriving in Japanese hospitals and companies–rooted in the philosophy of developing people through structured problem solving. What some in the West now call “A3 Thinking” or “PDSA” is alive and well in Japan as a cultural practice of Kaizen. Here’s what we can learn from it. One question I was asked to ask during my Japan trip was whether “Quality Circles” are still active in Japanese companies. I think the … Continue reading Quality Circles Are Alive and Thriving in Japan: Lessons in A3 Thinking and Kaizen