World café dynamic: Active learning to address quality tools

Abstract

Operational Excellence is a fundamental pillar for the competitiveness of industries and services, promoting process optimization and waste elimination. In the context of higher education, the adoption of active methodologies enhances learning and the practical applicability of theoretical concepts. This study presents a didactic experience based on the World Café dynamic to address the Seven Quality Tools, providing students with an in-depth and interactive understanding of quantitative waste analysis, project management, and decision-making based on indicators. The World Café was employed to stimulate knowledge exchange and co-creation of solutions, allowing participants to move between different discussion groups and explore content from multiple perspectives. The results demonstrated that the methodology fostered greater engagement and knowledge retention, facilitating the understanding of quality tool applications in continuous process improvement. Additionally, the approach enabled students to identify real improvement opportunities and propose technological solutions grounded in scientific principles, bridging theory and practice. This experience reinforces the potential of active methodologies in teaching Operational Excellence applied to Technological Innovation, highlighting that the use of interactive dynamics can be a differentiator in training professionals capable of leading improvement and organizational transformation projects. The research will serve as a foundation for future investigations into the integration of active methodologies in education for industry and services, promoting more effective teaching aligned with market needs.