Improvement of quality circles and Kaizen award evaluation process in kalder: Application of multi-criteria decision making techniques

ABSTRACT IMPROVEMENT of QUALITY CIRCLES and KAIZEN AWARD EVALUATION PROCESS KALDER: APPLICATION of MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING TECHNIQUES Neslişah ALBAYRAK Başkent Üniversitesi Institute of Science and Technology Department of Quality Engineering In this study, Quality Circles and Kaizen Award process is inspected. This award process has been organized by Turkish Society for Quality (KalDer) Ankara Branch since 2008 to support the continuous improvement activities and teamwork within the companies.The effects of evaluaters decisions' on award scoring and ranking are observed. Multi-criteria decision making techniques are applied to support the assessment of mathematical methods to reduce the differences caused by the evaluaters. The data of 13 Kobetsu Kaizen teams which applied for 2018 award and 7 Kobetsu Kaizen teams which applied for 2017 award, are used. The AHP method is used to determine the criteria weights. In the award ranking, AHP-GRA and AHP-TOPSIS are used as integrated and sensitivity analyzes are performed. It is observed that the final ranking is changed with the use of geometric mean in the calculations. It can be said that the method applied by the evaluators in face to face meeting will give different results, then applied according to the mathematical method and indirectly affect the award ranking. As a result of the sensitivity analysis, since the GRA and TOPSIS are rather than criteria based but distance based methods, changes are occured. KEYWORDS: Quality Circles and Kaizen, award process, multi-criteria decision making techniques, AHP, GRA, TOPSIS. Advisor: Dr. Barış KEÇECİ, Başkent Üniversitesi, Department of Industrial Engineering