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Tuesday, 1 November 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Dr. Srilal de Silva
International Quality Day falls on 2 November, and this will be a memorable day for Sri Lanka’s quality as the initial steps to activate the national quality movement are taken with the formation of a Sri Lanka Federation of Quality (SLFQ).
This federation includes all quality associations, chambers, trade associations, state sector bodies handling different aspects of quality such as Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB), Measurement Units, Standards and Services Department (MSSD) and National Productivity Secretariat and also JESTICA will be invited to be members of this quality federation.
There are three main issues the SLFQ is expected to handle as priorities. These include:
The National Quality Policy (NQP) is expected to provide direction and guidance to the national quality movement and the new infrastructure to be created to ensure the policy is implemented nation-wide in a regular and systematic manner positioning Sri Lanka on the fast track of economic development – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
SLFQ will function more or less on policy level and one of the key issues to be to reactivate Sri Lanka National Quality Policy and the stakeholders to implement the recommendations made by Drafting Committee of the National Quality Policy Statementin December 1995, which was lying inactive for over 20 years without anybody taking follow-up action.
There is a serious concern of the failure of quality and related certifications (quality, food safety, environment and workplace safety) in Sri Lanka and this is an urgent matter to be resolved early. Some measures that could receive attention of SLFQ will be recommended to the Government to pass legislations to control these certification bodies either through the SLAB or through another body established with private and state sector to monitor these activities. Further the only instrument to service the consumers, the SLS Mark Scheme to be made more useful to the consumers in the country.
The operation of the SLSI Product Certification (SLS Mark) needs restructuringto accommodate SMIs as the mechanism and the fee structure makes it difficult for SMIs to receive mark.
The CE Mark operated in EU identifies the degree of risk involved and have a stage wise approach where risk is high ISO 9001 is mandatory e.g. toys, at lower down only the test reports are reviewed.
The National Quality Movement in Sri Lanka was initiated with the establishment of the Bureau of Ceylon Standards by the Act No. 38 of 1964. This was replaced by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution Act No.6 of 1984. As the SLSI Act was hardly adequate to cover food safety both imports and exports, this Act was supplemented by the regulations issued under the Import & Export Control (IEA) Act and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act.
This SLSI Act identified standards formulation and product certification as the core activities with testing and library facilities to support these two key activities.
However with needs arising to certify imports and exports, in the absence of an organisation to handle these SLSI was to implement these under the provisions of Export and Import Act.
Subsequently due to the same reasons system certification based on ISO standards were initiated. This resulted in SLSI resources heavily used for these schemes and the core activities did not receive the original commitment.
With the expansion of these activities more testing laboratories, calibration activities, consultancy services and training institutions became necessary.
The need to develop a National Quality Policy (NQP) was identified in 1995 and SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), Grant was made available to initially familiarise with the system in Sweden and the team on their return appointed a drafting committee to develop the NQP.
NQP is expected to provide direction and guidance to the national quality movement and the new infrastructure to be created to ensure the policy is implemented nation-wide in a regular and systematic manner positioning Sri Lanka on the fast track of economic development.
So far only the establishment of the National Accreditation Board was effected. ANational Quality Policy (NQP) was drafted and this was approved by then President.
SLSI also will undergo restructuring with many regulatory bodies established under the NQP, many new testing and metrology laboratories established.
As the initial NQP is more than 20 years, it will be more appropriate to issue a new quality Policy, incorporating the development taken during the last 20 years and also to suit the current development plan of the Government.
By creating a Project Unit, eitherin the SLSI or MSTR and having high targets the follow up activities should get into a fast track, an initial target of three years to be allocated to complete the project and the necessary resources to be supplied.
The Action plan for implanting the project is given below. The recommendations are based on the original Action Plan prepared by the Drafting Committee and amended to suit the current situation.
The key responsibilities if the of NQC included the establishment of a National Accreditation Board (NAB) and Measurement of Scientific Standards Department (MSSD) to support the National Quality Movement.
NAB and MSSD are already set up. MSSD will cover measurement units, standards& services was already established, to be responsible for the National Measurement Systems; Existing regulations on food safety (including fisheries), construction, transport, education, health, etc. to be reviewed by an expert committee May be referred as Quality Planning Committee (QPC), established under the National Quality Council;
Following additional recommendations are made for taking up by the National Quality Council (NQC);
1. Establish the Project Secretariat (PS), with the appointment of the OIC for the project, two senior level officers (to be released from SLSI), One Management Assistant and an office aid. This project office to be established with necessary facilities.
2. The TOR of the project secretariat to be drafted by the QPC and submit for QPCs approval.
3. Independent budget for the PS will be established under the MST.
4. Establish a drafting committee to for re-draft the National Quality Policy(NQP) and a National Quality Programtaking the current development of the country and the global trends;
5. This is the central point for the promotion of quality as it sets the direction for the countries development. This committee should be include a cross section of the key administrators & quality professionals.
6. Take action to obtain the approval of the NQP, Parliament and then the Hon. President of the country;
7. Circulate the NQP with all Government departments , statutory boards, corporations and other bodies for their information;
8. Establish a National Quality Council consisting of few Cabinet Ministers. The Ministers recommended arescience and technology, trade, finance, public administration, health and agriculture.
9. NQC is to be brought under anew Ministry (Ministry of Quality and Productivity). This ministry will function as the Secretariat for the NQC;
10. Until the New Ministry is established, MST will function as the Secretariat;
11. Appoint Advisory Committees for identified new sectors Food &Drugs, Non Food, Agriculture, Export Agriculture (earlier minor crops),
12. These advisory committees will represent trade chambers and other relevant Institutions/organisations;
13. The current activities on Standards formulation or standardisation at national and company wise to be promoted on a wider scale.
14. Product certification (SLS Mark) should be treated as the national symbol of quality. The procedure to be reviewed to incorporate all sectors of the market and ensure consumers is well looked after.
15. Testing facilities were always had been a constraint and these must be strengthened. Private sector laboratories should be encouraged with loan facilities, tax relief, etc.
16. Well-developed central library catering to all sectors of the industry should be established.
17. The Product certification (SLS Mark) should be remodelled may be based on CE mark of EU and will serve all sectors of the industry. The Mark should be promoted both locally and overseas.
18. Promotion of quality management should be reviewed on a national scale;
19. Regulatory authorities for exercising control on imports, exports need to be established;
20. Food safety is handled by a number of agencies and a central authority (National Food Safety Authority) be established.
a. Organisations will be set up for providing testing, calibration, metrology, product certification (SLS Mark) and System Certification (ISO system certification) and inspection services;
The representation of chambers and associations of industry, commerce and trade to be sought and encouraged in the appropriate policy of making, advisory and consultative bodies.
1. Encourage setting up of consumer infrastructureservice centres;
2. Encourage initiatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in quality education and training;
3. Encourage establishment of degree awarding in quality and productivity universities, research in quality and productivity management and standardisation should be one aspect to be considered in setting up the universities;
4. The quality related activities in companies are funded in terms incentives, tax relief, etc.;
5. Trade unions to be encouraged toplay a positive and active role in the advancement and promotion of quality and productivity;
6. Mass media to be encouraged and involved to highlight quality and productivity activities so as to increasenational impact;
7. Establishing a separate TV channel tobe considered to promote island-wide awareness of quality and productivity;
8. Establish a professional body in quality management
Facilities for educating and training workers on quality and productivity will be an important role in HRD in quality and productivity. As such following aspects to be considered;
1. Educational and training activities to be restructured to deal with and contribute to the ever-changing demands of the future;
2. Principles and techniques of quality and productivity to be introduced into the schools education system at the primary and secondary education;
3. Standardisation and quality management to be introduced into the entirety of the tertiary education system comprising of universities, technical colleges and Vocational Training Institutions (VTI);
4. All state electronic media to be utilised to disseminate the message of quality for the development of quality culture in the country;
5. Employees at all levels in industry, business and commerce to be required to be continually educated and trained in quality for improvement of national productivity.
