ISO Quality Systems Implementation Technicians Called on to be Agents of Change

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, has encouraged the recently contracted ISO Quality Systems Implementation Technicians (QSITs/Junior Consultants) to be true agents of transformation in Jamaica.

The ISO QSITs are contracted under the Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, which is aimed at strengthening public resource management across the island and implementing the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) in several government agencies.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Speaking at the launch of a training course for the ISO QSITs at the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew on Monday (June 18), Mr. Shaw said with the mindset of true agents of transformation, these technicians will identify the best possible ways to make government agencies more efficient.

“The launch of the ISO Quality Systems Implementation Technicians Training Course is a significant step forward for transformation in the public sector,” Mr. Shaw said.

“Let me also congratulate the junior consultants who will be contracted as ISO Quality Systems Implementation Technicians… . I hope that you will be the true agents of transformation,” the Minister added.

Mr. Shaw said the Government has already started playing its part with regard to the Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project, by revising the National Quality Policy last year.

“As Government, we must lead by example with our own operations based on international standards and encourage the private sector to follow. The Government of Jamaica is committed to the strengthening of Jamaica’s National Quality Infrastructure. One demonstration of this commitment has been the revision of our National Quality Policy in 2017,” Mr. Shaw said.

“The Policy affirms Government’s commitment to the standardisation on the ISO 9001 Quality Management System,” he added.

The ISO 9001 QMS is a formalised procedure that documents processes, procedures and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives; helps coordinate and direct an organisation’s activities to meet customer and regulatory requirement; and improve effectiveness and efficiency on a continuous basis. It is also the international standard specifying requirements for quality management systems.

Mr. Shaw said the Government will be continuously encouraging all ministries, departments and agencies to implement the ISO 9001 Standard and get certified.

“Standards enable businesses to become more competitive, facilitate easier trade as well as the advancement of industries. We must, therefore, ensure that we build a culture of quality, which sees standards becoming a part of our everyday lives,” the Minister said.

“ISO 9001 can be used by any organisation, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. In fact, there are over one million companies and organisations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001 standard,” he noted.

Mr. Shaw thanked the World Bank for its support in financing the project.

The ISO Quality Systems Implementation Technicians will go through an intensive two-week training programme from June 18 to 30, after which they will be placed in agencies across government, and work under the supervision of senior ISO Quality Systems Consultants.