Ebène, 31 July 2023: The NPCC awarded 40 organisations at the National Productivity and Quality Excellence Award (NPQEA) 2022-2023 for implementing productivity and quality improvement projects and making continuous efforts to improve management and operational practices in their journey towards excellence.
The event was attended by representatives of the participating organisations as well as from public and private entities.
The NPQEA is an initiative of the NPCC that encourages organisations to share their best operational practices, processes, systems, and initiatives and learn from the experience of others. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of teams that have been responsible for creating and managing productivity and quality improvements at their workplace.
The Grand Winners of NPQEA 2022-2023, who were selected among seven Gold winners in three distinct categories by a panel of international jurors, were are as follows:
• Small & Medium private enterprises including micro enterprises: Lubatech Ltd
• Large private enterprises: Cervonic Ltd
• Government departments, parastatals and registered associations: Bon Accueil State Secondary School
Mrs. Sandhya Boygah, the Executive Director of the NPCC, stressed on the importance for local organisations to achieving excellence in her speech.
“The quest for excellence has always been a driving force behind human progress. Its significance is even more critical in our interconnected and fast-paced society. Mauritius currently finds itself at a crossroad where it has to make the best and boldest choices to remain competitive and sustainable as an economy. And this is where we find the importance of excellence in all that we do,” said Mrs. Sandhya Boygah.
She explained further that “excellence is not merely a desirable trait; it is today a prerequisite for success. Whether it is a government department, a non-profit organisation, or a private company, the pursuit of excellence is essential for achieving organisational goals, delivering value to stakeholders, and making a positive impact on society.”
Mrs. Boygah seized the opportunity to thank the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Honorable Soomilduth Bholah for his continuous support to the productivity movement. She also expressed her gratitude to the NPCC staff and all stakeholders for their commitment to NPCC initiatives.
The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Honorable Soomilduth Bholah, who was the Chief Guest at the event, pointed out: “We have come a long way, for sure. But we live in challenging times where change is the biggest opportunity for progress and impact. It is important to grow our economy. We wish to consolidate our industrial base through innovation. It is a national effort. Through the NPCC, the Government is putting in place the appropriate policies to promote productivity within the industrial sector.”
He further said that “we are mounting a national effort. And everyone should be on board in this productivity movement. Today, we are evolving in the era of Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Internet of Things, Robotics, Cloud Computing, and 3D Printing. We are talking about how to produce better output… not just about how to produce more output.”
Previously organised as the National Productivity and Quality Convention (NPQC), the NPCC proceeded with a review of the initiative along with the criteria to help organisations embark on a journey towards excellence. This initiative also enables them to benchmark themselves and become more productive and competitive through continuous improvement.
The NPQEA serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing and networking among industry leaders, policymakers, and professionals passionate about productivity and quality enhancement. By fostering a culture of excellence, the NPQEA aims to inspire and encourage other organisations to embark on similar transformative journeys, contributing to the growth and competitiveness of the nation's economy.
Organisations among the Grand winners will be nominated to represent Mauritius in regional and international forums including the International Convention on Quality Control Circle (ICQCC) to be held in 2023 in Beijing, China and the African Kaizen Award (AKA) 2023.
It is worth noting that the NPCC has been identified as a potential Africa Kaizen Initiative - Centre of Excellence for Africa together with Productivity South Africa, l’Unité de Gestion du Programme National de Promotion de la Qualité et de la Productivité (UGPQP) of Tunisia and the Ethiopian Kaizen Institute. A Capacity Enhancement Programme for all National Productivity Organisations (NPOs) in Africa is scheduled in October 2023 to exchange experiences and provide training on the six criteria of a Centre of Excellence.
Click here to download the speech of Honorable Soomilduth Bholah, Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives
Click here to download the speech of Mrs. Sandhya Boygah, Executive Director of the NPCC
Click here to download the press release of the NPQEA event.
The NPQEA Ceremony in the media
Grand winners of National Productivity and Quality Excellence Award receive accolade (GIS 31.07.23)
NPCC l'excelence, la productivité et la qualité récompensées (Le Defi Quotidien 31.07.23)
Productivité un déterminant fondamental de la croissance économique selon le ministre Bholah (Inside News 01.08.23)
National Productivity and Quality Excellence Award 2022-2023 (Maurice Info 02.08.23)
Lubatech Ltd Cervonic Ltd et Bon Accueil SSS à l'honneur (Le Mauricien 02.08.23)