What is Innovation and Quality Circles (IQC)?

The Quality Circle (QC) movement was launched in Singapore in 1981. With the transformation from Quality Circles (QCs) to Innovation & Quality Circles (IQCs) in 2000, the IQC movement has reached all sectors of the economy.

Innovation and Quality Circles are about teams of individuals working together to enhance innovation and quality in enterprises. They now have to increasingly focus on innovation as a key factor for business success. Organisations have to increase their innovative capacity and create value to remain competitive and sustain business growth.​

As a strategic partner to SPRING Singapore,  the Association has been playing an active role to develop the Team Excellence Initiative. This includes organising IQC conventions in Singapore, leading Singapore's participation at international IQC activities, managing a pool of IQC project assessors, and providing advice and consultancy services to enterprises interested in IQC programmes.

During the year, 154 Teams participated in our Team Excellence Symposiums in Sep 2014 and March 2015. From March 2007 to March 2015, both in house and public Team Excellence runs have shown a registration of ​3,493 teams, amounting to a total cost savings of S$1.2 billion dollars.

Enabling Innovation and Quality Circles

To enable Team Excellence activities, Singapore Productivity Association conducts Team Excellence Assessment, both in-house and public basis. Team Excellence Problem Solving Tools & Techniques Course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills of creativity tools and techniques to elad and/or participate in Innovation & Quality Circle (IQC) activites, while the IQC Assessment Criteria Course enables participants to understand in detail, the enhanced IQC assessment criteria / methodology used during the Team Excellence Assesment and In-house and also understanding how reports are being assessed and scored.

Team Excellence Awards is the highest accolade given to individuals in the Team Excellence Initiative. The award recognizes individuals for excellence in Team Excellence activities. It highlights the importance of Team Excellence as a platform for business excellence.

Team Excellence Champion Award

​The Team Excellence Awards is the highest accolade given to individuals in the Team Excellence Initiative. The award recognises individuals for excellence in Team Excellence activities. It highlights the importance of Team Excellence as a platform for business excellence. ​
​Best Practice Portal

The Best Practices Portal is where Team Excellence Assessment participants can view the presentation slides of fellow teams, and learn from other organisation's and industry's best practices. This closed door sharing portal is only available among teams who have participated in the Team Excellence Assessment.

Team Excellence Activities

Team Excellence Assessment

Team Excellence Problem Solving Tools & Techniques Course

Innovation & Quality Circles Assessments Criteria Course

TE / NIQC In-house Assessment