Quality Management and Competitiveness in the New Economic Context
30 March 2009
Read by 1415 persons
To support Tunisian economic actors in their modernization efforts and the renewal of current management methods, to promote a culture of good governance (essential for the sustainability of our industrial fabric), and to target technical assistance related to sectoral standards, the National Quality Promotion Program Management Unit (UGPQ) launched "National Quality Week" at the Abou Nawas Hotel in Tunis on March 23, 2009, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The theme was "Quality management: A tool for competitiveness in the new economic context".
This involved a series of seminars, round tables, and a week of extensive communication and awareness-raising. Each year, it takes place in several Tunisian cities at the end of March (March 24th in Sousse, the following day in Sfax, then March 26th in Kef and finally in Gafsa on the 27th). The goal is to spread the word to various economic stakeholders in the country, create public-private synergies, and inspire vocations through testimonials from pioneering operators at the forefront of progress. These operators are fully aligned with various quality standards and upgrading programs implemented since the 1995 association agreement with the EU.
Summary and Outlook
Mr. Tarek Ben Yahmed, representing UTICA during these meetings aimed at promoting good management practices, emphasized in his opening address the importance of capitalizing on Tunisian expertise in consulting. He stressed the urgency for Tunisian contracting authorities, eager to win shares of the European market, to quickly implement integrated "quality and safety-quality and environment" systems at the production level. This is in accordance with the standards of conformity assessment bodies, meeting the demands of Western customers who prioritize labeling, certification, and transparency throughout the supply chain.
For her part, Ms. Amel Ben Ferhat, Director of UGPQ, highlighted the generally positive results of her departments' work during the opening session. Within the framework of the Industrial Modernization Program (PMI), with EU financial support, her departments assisted 1106 companies in certification matters. They also carried out numerous support missions for testing, analysis, and calibration laboratories; 39 have been accredited to date by the National Accreditation Council (TUNAC), and 17 are in the preparation and expertise phase, according to our contact.
Quality: A Long-Term Process
"Since 2005, the state has mobilized 20 MDT to improve the competitiveness of intangible investments related to quality promotion. With the help of the European Commission, 8 million euros have been invested in various training sessions targeting private sector consulting firms, sectoral technical centers, and future experts responsible for auditing, evaluation, and assistance," said Mr. Afif Chelbi, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. His speech at the beginning of the seminar paid tribute to Tunisian industrialists, whom he described as inventive and audacious. He noted their willingness, despite a difficult international economic climate, to question themselves, comply with precise evaluation rules, and engage in a qualitative process whose ultimate stake is the company's sustainability and its repositioning on the international market.
The highlight of the first day was the testimony of the representative of the "Tunisie Profilés Aluminium" company. The company received the President of the Republic's Grand Prize for Quality Promotion. The representative presented a triumphant account of the company's roadmap to performance. This roadmap prioritizes: being a responsible corporate citizen, employing young graduates, collaborating with Technical Centers (INNORPI...), developing integrated vocational training, an energy efficiency program, promoting quality, and boosting the financial market. These, he added, are the pillars of a strategy aimed at growth, excellence, and expansion beyond national borders.
Posted on March 30, 2009
Webmanagercenter
This involved a series of seminars, round tables, and a week of extensive communication and awareness-raising. Each year, it takes place in several Tunisian cities at the end of March (March 24th in Sousse, the following day in Sfax, then March 26th in Kef and finally in Gafsa on the 27th). The goal is to spread the word to various economic stakeholders in the country, create public-private synergies, and inspire vocations through testimonials from pioneering operators at the forefront of progress. These operators are fully aligned with various quality standards and upgrading programs implemented since the 1995 association agreement with the EU.
Summary and Outlook
Mr. Tarek Ben Yahmed, representing UTICA during these meetings aimed at promoting good management practices, emphasized in his opening address the importance of capitalizing on Tunisian expertise in consulting. He stressed the urgency for Tunisian contracting authorities, eager to win shares of the European market, to quickly implement integrated "quality and safety-quality and environment" systems at the production level. This is in accordance with the standards of conformity assessment bodies, meeting the demands of Western customers who prioritize labeling, certification, and transparency throughout the supply chain.
For her part, Ms. Amel Ben Ferhat, Director of UGPQ, highlighted the generally positive results of her departments' work during the opening session. Within the framework of the Industrial Modernization Program (PMI), with EU financial support, her departments assisted 1106 companies in certification matters. They also carried out numerous support missions for testing, analysis, and calibration laboratories; 39 have been accredited to date by the National Accreditation Council (TUNAC), and 17 are in the preparation and expertise phase, according to our contact.
Quality: A Long-Term Process
"Since 2005, the state has mobilized 20 MDT to improve the competitiveness of intangible investments related to quality promotion. With the help of the European Commission, 8 million euros have been invested in various training sessions targeting private sector consulting firms, sectoral technical centers, and future experts responsible for auditing, evaluation, and assistance," said Mr. Afif Chelbi, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. His speech at the beginning of the seminar paid tribute to Tunisian industrialists, whom he described as inventive and audacious. He noted their willingness, despite a difficult international economic climate, to question themselves, comply with precise evaluation rules, and engage in a qualitative process whose ultimate stake is the company's sustainability and its repositioning on the international market.
The highlight of the first day was the testimony of the representative of the "Tunisie Profilés Aluminium" company. The company received the President of the Republic's Grand Prize for Quality Promotion. The representative presented a triumphant account of the company's roadmap to performance. This roadmap prioritizes: being a responsible corporate citizen, employing young graduates, collaborating with Technical Centers (INNORPI...), developing integrated vocational training, an energy efficiency program, promoting quality, and boosting the financial market. These, he added, are the pillars of a strategy aimed at growth, excellence, and expansion beyond national borders.
Posted on March 30, 2009
Webmanagercenter
