SLAQ is working with industry and
government to educate people generally about the importance of
quality and to bring about the better regulations of the process
of assessing quality standards.
Here we aim to provide all the
information you need for your company’s drive towards
excellence.
ISO 9000 Forum
National Food Safety
Programme
Sri Lanka
Benchmarking Services (SLBS)
School Quality
Societies
SLAQ Awards
Management
Consultant Register
ISO 9000 Forum
The ISO 9000 Forum Sri
Lanka was set up by the Sri Lanka Association for
quality (SLAQ) to help business and organizations to save time,
energy and money in finding practical answers to the many
questions that arise when taking up the ISO 9000 challenge.
The surveys conducted in Sri
Lanka indicate most organizations receiving ISO 9000
certifications had received limited benefits thereby possibly
increasing the overall costs and becoming less competitive.
Some of these are reflections on
poor training and consultancy services, poor certification and
auditing which could be avoided with proper guidance especially
at early stages of certification.
Top
National Food Safety
Programme
In considering the safety of
food, many food-related industries consider introducing Food
Safety Management Systems (FSMS) as a safeguard of their
business interests. The international pressure on exported food
products such as tea, fishery products including aquaculture,
desiccated coconut, poultry and also food related business such
as tourism and restaurants is increasing with many international
and national bodies insisting on FSMS in the organizations
involved in above areas.
Directives issued by the European
Union (EU) and also regulations of US Food and Drug
Administration (USFDA) makes mandatory for some food groups to
introduce such systems for exporting to EU and USA. Many other
countries are also looking for FSMS as a requirement to import
food products to the respective countries.
Considering the reports of
food-borne illness in Sri Lanka, it is noteworthy that
food-processing industry takes a more serious look at FSMS in
their business and demonstrate their commitment to food safety.
For supporting the growing need
to develop FSMS in Sri Lanka now IRCA accredited FSMS programs
are conducted by Sri Lanka Association for Quality (SLAQ) with
technical support from Quality International Technical Services
(Pvt.) Ltd. This training will support food related business
organizations to develop internationally acceptable FSMS and
build confidence in their products and services and also
national image.
Top
Sri Lanka
Benchmarking Services (SLBS)
Sri Lanka Benchmarking Service (SLBS)
will promote benchmarking as a means to effect changes in the
quest for excellence, assist companies to have access to
information on best practices through partnership and
networking, to facilitate information sharing among companies
and provide training for members.
Members of SLBS will be able to
establish goals and objectives by using external focus, to
attain a competitive position through a solid understanding of
competition, proactive research for industry best and adapt to
their own situation, develop productivity and quality benchmarks
and also expand corporate and professional contacts.
SLAQ is planning to work closely
with the American Society for Quality (ASQ) in initiating this
service and their experience will be utilized developing the
program. To launch this program SLAQ proposes to hold a
conference together with ASQ.
The membership of SLBS will be
offered at a concession rate for SLAQ members and the membership
of SLBS will be available to others after paying the membership
fee. This will be another service of SLAQ to the development of
quality management in Sri Lanka.
Top
School Quality
Societies
For promoting the national
progress an attitudinal change of the society is recognized as a
vital component, so Sri Lankans at all levels behave in a
responsible manner and be mindful of the national interests in
all activities they undertake. Sri Lanka Association for Quality
(SLAQ) with its commitment to the national prosperity, strongly
believe that this change could be achieved by focusing some
effort on the younger generation so that in years to come a
gradual change in the society could be expected.
At this stage national commitment
of the people in South Asian countries such as Japan, Korea,
China, Singapore, and Malaysia could be taken as good examples.
It needs to be recognized that training on quality issues at
early stages of education, are considered the basis for such
achievements. It is regretted to note this approach is lacking
in Sri Lanka and except for inclusion on a module on quality for
higher level examinations (GCE ‘O” & ‘A” level), no further
training is available.
With this objective, SLAQ will
undertake promoting quality concepts among school children to
encourage them to be better citizens. Further professional
education on quality, similar to accountancy, marketing etc will
be introduced in Sri Lanka with international affiliations so
that quality will become a profession.
For achieving this objective,
SLAQ will encourage establishment of School Quality Societies (SQS)
and will be supported to propagate quality in their own schools
and also society they interact.
Top
SLAQ Awards
Objective of these awards is to
recognize contributions to the quality enhancement in Sri Lanka
thereby encouraging professionalism in promoting quality on
individual basis. From year 2000 SLAQ has introduced two awards
to be awarded each year.
Top
Management
Consultant Register
Management Consultants
Register provides businesses with access to a network of high
quality consultants with a variety of discipline, skills and
experience. Whether implementing or upgrading ISO 9001 or moving
towards business excellence SLAQ can help find the right quality
consultants to meet the needs of each organization.
Top
|
