The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region successfully organised the 38th Regional Quality Circle Competition – Regional Final at the CII Northern Region Headquarters, Chandigarh, on 29–30 January 2026.
The two-day regional finale witnessed participation from 37 Quality Circle teams and over 250 professionals from leading manufacturing and engineering organisations across the Northern Region, showcasing structured problem-solving, innovation, teamwork, and shop-floor excellence.
The competition served as a vibrant platform for organisations to present live case studies demonstrating the effective application of Quality Circle tools, data-driven analysis, digital thinking, and measurable business impact. Teams impressed the jury through well-structured presentations supported by analytics, innovation-led solutions, and strong implementation outcomes.
Jury Panel
The competition was evaluated by a distinguished panel of experts:
• Mr Subodh Jain, Chief Judge & CEO, Okai Centre of Excellence
• Mr R. S. Solanki, Lean Consultant & Director – Lean Operations, OTIFAS Pvt. Ltd.
• Dr Aneet Bedi, Director, Gian Jyoti Group of Institutions
• Mr Ajay Sharma, Former Head – Operations & Production, JCB India Limited
Valedictory Session
The Valedictory Session was graced by Mr Vivek Gupta, Past Chairman, CII Chandigarh UT & Director, NEC Packaging Ltd, and Mr Sameer Goel, Past Chairman, CII Chandigarh UT & Head – Development Centre, Infosys, as the Guest of Honour.
The speakers appreciated the discipline, analytical rigour, and maturity displayed by the teams and highlighted the growing relevance of Quality Circles in supporting digital transformation, operational excellence, and scalable systems within organisations.
Winners – Top Awards
• Winner:
Team SHIKHAR, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd – Swaraj Division, Mohali
• First Runner-Up (3 Teams):
* THE FIGHTER, Daikin Air Conditioning India Pvt Ltd, Neemrana
* SHAURYA, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Haridwar
* MANTHAN, Subros Ltd, Noida
• Second Runner-Up (3 Teams):
* KSHITIJ, Schaltbau India Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon
* SRIJAN, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Gurugram
* DARPAN, Havells India Limited – SDA Division, Haridwar
Special Category Awards
In addition to the top trophies, multiple Special Category Awards were presented to recognise excellence across specific dimensions of Quality Circles, including:
• Overall Excellence in Presentation & Innovation
• AI & Innovation Excellence Awards
• Excellence in Application of Advanced Quality Circle Tools
• Excellence in Problem Identification & Analysis
• Best Solution Implementation
• Excellence in Holding the Gains & Profits
• Best All-Women Empowerment Teams
A significant number of teams qualifying under Special Categories will be eligible to represent the Northern Region at the CII National Quality Circle Competition, scheduled to be held in Chennai in March 2026, subject to jury discretion.
Key Takeaways
The 38th edition reaffirmed the importance of Quality Circles as a powerful people-led movement that strengthens systems, encourages innovation, and builds a culture of continuous improvement. The enthusiastic participation and diversity of case studies highlighted the maturity of quality practices across industries in the Northern Region.
