TQM, the Only Way

The KSA holds the 36th National Quality Management Convention

The 36th National Quality Management Convention was held at COEX in Seoul on Nov. 23 to evaluate all quality management practices of the industrial community and to renew their determination to ensure global quality management.
Organized by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the umbrella of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and Korean Standards Association (KSA), the convention was attended by roughly 1,700 people, including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Vice Minister for Industry and Technology Ahn Yeon-ho, the chiefs of economic organizations and businesspeople.
In his commemorative speech, Prime Minister Kim praised corporations and their employees for making efforts to provide quality products and services to customers through quality innovation and process improvement despite unfavorable conditions. He also said, “Corporate Korea should establish a corporate culture for global quality management for the purpose of executing social responsibility for sustainable growth to become a quality management powerhouse fitting into its standing as Asia’s first chair of the G20 Summit.”
The Korea Standards Association has organized the National Quality Management Convention as an annual event since 1975 to award prizes corporations or those who contributed to quality management and product renovation in a bid to awaken the significance of quality management and publicize it.
During the event, attended by top-rated quality management employees and businessmen, the Quality Management Award went to five entities, including Hyundai Steel’s 2nd Pohang Steelworks, KEPCO KDN and Sokang University.
Aju Corp. and Hyundai Hysco Ulsan plant each received the Production Innovation Award, while Korea South East Power Co. (KOSEP) was awarded with the Equipment Management Award. The Green Management Award went to Korea BASF’s Yeosu plant, while LS Cable and Dongbu Steel were presented with the Six-Sigma Award. Lotte World was presented with the Customer Satisfaction Award, while K-water and Geyonggi Provincial Government were awarded with the Human Resources Development Award. Busan Metropolitan Government received the Excellent Local Government Quality Management Award, established this year to spread quality management activities on a regional basis. KEPCO NF (KNF) was awarded with the Quality Competitiveness Excellence Award, while 10 companies and organizations, including Korea Gas Safety Corp. received the Service Quality Excellence Award. Kia Motors and Korea Western Power were presented with the Quality Circle Excellence Award.
Eight-four people were honored with a variety of awards, including orders and medals, in recognition of the contribution to improving quality management. The Order of Industrial Service, Gold Tower went to Seoul Commtech Co. President & CEO Oh Se-young who has been credited with contributing to building a quality system and improving corporate culture through such quality management activities as Six-Signam program and Korea South East Power Co. (KOSEP) CEO and President Jang Do-soo for becoming the first Korean corporation to introduce a total productive maintenance (TPM) program, changing the balance sheet of the company into the black and achieving power generation efficiency targets.
The history of quality management in Korea started with the promulgation of the Industrial Standardization Law in 1961 and the establishment of the Industrial Promotion Agency in 1973. It strengthened industrial competitiveness and enhanced product quality, and also greatly helped the nation emerge as one of the major industrialized countries on the global scene. With the devoted efforts of all corporate employees and laborers alike, Korea could overcome such a harsh economic reality faced by the acute foreign exchange crisis of late 1997, provide decisive momentum for the nation to rebuild its economy and envision the nation’s economy entering the ranks of developed countries.
The Quality Grand Award in the manufacturing/large-sized company category went to five companies, including STX Engine Co., KOPEC, and LG Telecom in recognition of their efforts to reform operations by implementing quality management efficiently and improving their product quality and productivity.
The top honor, Korean Quality Grand Award went to Toray Saehan, headed by President Lee Young-kwan, in recognition for its contributing to improving a competitive edge and ensuring customer protection. Nineteen other corporations were given diverse prizes for playing leading roles in quality management.
Customer Satisfaction Award. HJC was decorated with the Product Safety Management Award. nw

Choi Kap-hong, chairman of the Korean Standards Association, delivers a message at the 36th National Quality Convention at COEX in Seoul on Nov. 23.