Munchee claims National Quality Award

Anura Senaratne, General Manager Research and Development and Quality Assurance CBL, receiving the award from Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Technology Research and Atomic Energy while Ramya Wickramasingha, Deputy Chairman, CBL, Sheamalee Wickramasingha, Group Managing Director, CBL and Dharani Wijethilake, Secretary to the Ministry of Technology Research and Atomic Energy look on.

Munchee, the undisputed leader in Sri Lanka's confectionery market claimed a National Quality Award (NQA) 2012 for performance excellence in the large manufacturing category at a gala award ceremony held at the BMICH. This was the second time that Munchee received this accolade from the Sri Lanka Standard Institution. Sri Lanka Standards Institute award small, medium and large companies annually for excellent standards in manufacturing, service, education and healthcare categories. The selection criteria for the annual NQA awards follow the same criteria employed by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards USA in selecting winners.

Sri Lanka Standards Institution evaluates the selected companies on seven criteria, namely, leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurements - analysis and knowledge management, workforce focus, operations focus and results. Companies that obtain more than 650 points overall are eligible for the NQA title while the organizations that score highest marks are honored with an NQA.

Further, the selection criteria took into account the long-term, clear-cut targets, knowledge management, research and development, product analysis, sensitivity to consumer trends and needs, use of technology to improve efficiency and sustainable growth with a high level of employee involvement. Commenting on winning the National Quality Award twice, Sheamali Wickramasingha, Group Managing Director of Ceylon Biscuits Limited stated, "this award is proof that we have constantly maintained excellence in all aspects of our business. Since our inception in 1968, we have faced a challenging journey with commitment and dedication to upholding excellent standards.

We will continue to enhance the quality of our products and exceed the expectations of our consumers in order to maintain our competitive edge and lead the market".

Led by a retired appeal court judge, the NQA judging panel comprise of prominent personalities of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as well as industry leaders. The judges scrutinize each and every detail of the evaluation criteria under the direct guidance of the officials of Sri Lanka Standards Institution before selecting the winners.