Quality: The new mantra for small firms

Taking quality as the topmost priority and further to compete in the global market, the northern region companies, especially the SME's sector, are focusing on quality control by implementing TQM (total quality management). The companies, slowly and gradually, have realised that by implementing the latest quality control measures, they can not only save on costs, but also compete in the global market.

Speaking to Business Standard, Arun Bharat Ram, chairman, SRF Ltd, who was in the city for the 7th North-West QualTech Awards,(the most prestigious Quality Awards of the region), said, "The SMEs have to focus on quality if they want to survive in this competitive market. Initially, we were five companies in India, but now we are only two in nylon tyre cord business because we were focussed on the quality front and implemented TQM." He said the practice of total quality management has been a great rallying point for industry's effort towards building the capabilities of its people, and said that the major challenge for any organisation is to change the mindset of its people right from the top to the bottom so as to bring in the culture of quality, which requires, he said, consistent education, training, and communication.

The northern region's inclination towards quality can be also evident from the fact that this year 33 entries from 28 companies were received for the 7th North-West Qualtech Awards. Out of the total entries, 18 entries were received from small and medium business category. These awards have been instituted to recognise organisations and their project teams that have achieved extraordinary results in quality improvement.

The competition this year was intense, informed Manish Trehan, CEO of PTU's Gian Jyoti School of TQM & Entrepreneurship, in which contestants from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, UP, MP & Maharashtra took part. Seventeen teams from various companies, who were short-listed for the finals, presented their projects before an august gathering of industry professionals in a day-long session. The participating teams reported a total saving of Rs 50.49 crore as a result of these projects.

So far as the results are concerned, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing (Punjab), Lakshmi Precision Screws, Rohtak (Haryana), and GNA Duraparts, Hoshiarpur, won the 7th Northwest Qualtech Awards, in the large, medium, and small industry categories respectively.