Quality ‘must’ for conquering global markets - Prof. Vitharana

Rohan Mathes

We can achieve economic development only if our local products and services could successfully compete with a plethora of foreign products flooding our markets at competitive prices, observed Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana.

Minister Vitharana made this observation when he addressed the National Productivity and National Quality Awards 2006 ceremony organised by the National Productivity Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, under the auspices of the Labour Relations and Manpower Ministry and Science and Technology Ministry, at the BMICH yesterday.

Minister Vitharana said we would succeed in marketing our products in the international markets only if we attain international benchmarks such as ISO standards. Japan has conquered the global markets by its efficiency and the attainment of the highest internationally known quality standards, and by their consistent efforts to further improve on quality.

“Productivity could not be enhanced by technology per se, but requires a shift in the psyche of the work force too,” he added.

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Senevirathna stated that the country is confronting two wars - the North East conflict and economic development.

Enhancement of productivity is essential to win the economic battle. A paradigm shift in concepts at all levels, beginning at school-level, is vital for the same. “The media too has a significant role to play in this regard,” he noted.

Minister Senevirathna added that with the goal of achieving higher productivity standards in the future, his Ministry would propose to the relevant parties and stake holders, a ‘Decent Work Policy’, a tri-partite faculty to resolve employer-employee disputes and Advisory Committees at District level among others.

President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga reiterated that productivity concepts would be of paramount importance for the ‘Public Sector’, as otherwise they may face the threat of being phased out with the growing competition offered by the private sector. “Consideration of details too would be of much importance in matters of productivity,” he added.

Labour Relations and Manpower Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa, National Productivity Secretariat Director Upali Marasinghe, Sri Lanka Standards Institution Director General Shiranee Weragoda and the Secretary General of the Asia Productivity Organisation Shigeo Takenaka also addressed the ceremony.

The Sri Lanka National Quality Award (SLNQA) ceremony is an annual award giving ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

Applicant organisations for selection are evaluated based on seven aspects which include Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer and Market Force, Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge management, Human Resource Focus, Process Management and Business Results. These criteria are based on the same criteria used for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards awarded in the USA.

The evaluation process goes through five stages, namely, individual evaluation by examiners, team evaluation by examiners, site visit evaluation by the team of examiners, review committee evaluation and the selection by the Panel of Judges.

Winners receive a trophy and a certificate. All applicants receive a feedback report indicating their strengths and areas for improvement.

Many applicants are believed to use the feedback report for their future guidance in improving their performance.

Trophies and Certificates were awarded to Kelani Cables Limited and Comfortwear (Pvt) Limited in the Large-Scale Manufacturing sector, Prasara Washing Plant (Pvt) limited in the Medium-scale Service and Suntel Limited and General Hospital in Ampara in the Large-scale service sector.

Uni Dil Packaging limited and Hidaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt) Limited of Seethawaka in the large-scale manufacturing, Premium Export Ceylon Limited in the medium-scale manufacturing and Taj Exotica in the large-scale service sector won Merit Certificates.