After a set number of weeks of service, all employees are promoted to the next step in their grade and receive that subsequent raise. Consult these paycharts and the Within-Grade-Increase memo for more information.

However, a QSI rewards outstanding by raising an employee's salary to the next step, without having to wait for the set number of weeks.* An employee's eligibility for a QSI is based on their production levels for four consecutive quarters. While it is not a strict requirment, an employee should show promise that they will maintain that production level. (Consult Appendix A, Article XV, page 93 of the CBA for necessary production percentages, and further info.) In most cases, in order to receive a subsequent QSI, the employee must demonstrate higher production levels than what earned them the first QSI.

The QSI comes in lieu of any other end-of-the-year performance reward. However, this policy only applies to awards related to the annual performance appraisal. This policy does not apply to incentive awards or other supplemental awards.

Your SPE should have a spreadsheet to calculate QSIs. 

*Normally, a QSI does not affect the timing of an employee's next regular WGI unless the QSI places the employee in step 4 or step 7 of their grade. In these cases, the employee becomes subject to the full waiting period for the new step.