It is somewhat unfortunate that in this liberalized and highly competitive national and global business environment that many of our local manufacturers still do not appreciate the benefits to be derived from conformance to standards. Some manufacturers circumvent the use of national and international standards with the hope that local consumers will continue to accept whatever is produced, once the price is affordable.
The time has come for more of our manufacturers to see standards as part of their strategies to lower the cost of production, increase quality and consistency and to find favour with a wider market. The time for cheap, inferior products has long gone. It is time for local manufacturers as well as importers to ensure that whatever products they offer for sale are conforming to standards and meet the level of quality desired by consumers.
Currently, some farmers, exporters and businessmen show very little understanding and appreciation for standards and this disposition is often a significant contributor to the stagnation or even dissolution of their businesses, since in order to be competitive in today’s market, companies have to continuously strive to utilize standards and benchmark their businesses so as to adopt the best known practices which can to enhance product quality and competitiveness.
Manufacturers should try standards to realize competitiveness.
Today our local market is being flooded with foreign products. The ability to compete with these products can only be achieved when manufacturers employ standards to create the requisite checks and balances to improve efficiency. These internal checks and balances will allow the monitoring of every aspect of the manufacturing process to detect non-conformances and trigger improvements.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has not only been facilitating the development of standards, but also has been promoting standards through education and sensitization of stakeholders in different fora. Those who have heeded the call to make standards the main pillar of their businesses are today reaping the fruits locally while some have expanded to foreign markets.
Without coercion or compulsion, manufacturers must begin to ensure that the right standards are implemented and quality is achieved to increase and maintain the viability of their businesses. The GNBS, through its Consultancy Services Programme can support any company desirous of implementing standards. Therefore, manufacturers are encouraged to try standards now.
