His Excellency, the Governor of Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Fifth National Quality Conference, Dr. Saad bin Othman Al Qasabi revealed the completion of the main draft of the national strategy for quality which achieves the objective of the King's vision i.e., "to make Saudi products and services a global standard for quality and excellence". It will be launched soon, and it aims at building a comprehensive model for all government sectors, public utilities sectors and civil sectors' organizations.
He stressed, during a press conference held on Wednesday at SASO, in Riyadh, on the occasion of the Fifth National Quality Conference, which is organized by SASO during the period 30th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1436 – 2nd Of Muharram 1437 H., corresponding to 13th -15th of October 2015, and lasts for three days , under the slogan "Quality .. a strategic choice for promoting sustainability and enhancing competitiveness," that the conference will be held every two years under the Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He noted that the fifth conference will witness many distinctive participations by a number of national and international speakers in all sectors. In addition, it will review national and international experiences in the application of quality and how those sectors achieve excellence in the application of quality at work.
The governor of SASO said that this conference comes from SASO's continuous efforts to root quality concepts and applications in the targeted business sectors of the national strategy project for quality and to achieve the kingdom's future quality vision which is to make" Saudi products and services a global standard for quality and excellence by 2020". He also said, "The conference, in its fifth edition, will not be a propaganda nor a luxury; it will be a real opportunity to highlight pioneering experiences in the field of quality for all participating sectors."
Dr. Al Qasabi added that the national strategy for quality aims to provide a comprehensive and unified framework as a national model for quality standards in line with international regulations to enable all sectors participating in this strategy to provide products and services of high quality that compete with their counterparts of an international level. This is achieved through creating a precise program to disseminate quality culture and its applications in all areas of services and products, contributing in the achievement of the highest quality levels in services and products for all targeted sectors according to their respective data, and establishing a joint and integrated work system among all quality- related sectors.
For his part, Eng. Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Deputy Governor of the Specifications and Laboratories and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Conference, mentioned that choosing the conference slogan (Quality … a strategic choice for promoting sustainability and enhancing competitiveness), organized by SASO, fits well with the current and future period requirements for quality in the Kingdom. It comes to stress the importance of quality, from a national perspective, and its role in achieving and supporting sustainability in all life aspects.
He clarified that the themes of the conference are based on creativity and innovation as they are considered necessary for working in the field of quality to improve and develop the performance of the product, institutional sustainability where quality is considered as the key to the application of organizational excellence principles in all sectors to achieve the desired success, in addition to the quality and competitiveness which discusses the role of quality in strengthening the economic position of national products and ensures its ability to compete in international markets. The latter theme focuses on the beneficiaries of quality.
About the scientific program of the conference, Dr. Ayed Al- Omari, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, clarified that the scientific program of the conference contains a large number of scientific lectures, working papers and sessions that discuss the latest studies and applied experiences of quality. It also includes the best local, regional and international practices and their modern applications. The program includes (6) various scientific sessions, a special session entitled (The Future of Quality in KSA), a closing session and two main lectures.
At the margin of the conference, there are (4) specialized workshops in quality and its modern applications. The program includes (23) lectures and (11) working papers, (8) of which are for international speakers. The number of participants in the conference and workshops have reached more than (1,000) until now. The speakers will present the latest studies and national and international practices in the field of quality and its various applications.
He noted that the conference will present, during its three days, international experiences in quality applications, such as those of "IKEA, LG and Cathay Pacific, and national experiences, such as those of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and its achievement of the national and international academic accreditation, Aljeel Private School, Almarai Company, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and the hospital's journey with quality, King Saud Hospital in Aneza, SABIC and its achievement of 10,000 patents in creativity and innovation, and STC.
The Chairman of the Scientific Committee said, "Adopting quality concepts and applications and organizational excellence practices is a fundamental requirement for enhancing national economy and supporting competitiveness for national products and services to achieve the royal vision of quality, which is (to make Saudi products and services a global standard for quality and excellence by 2020) and to provide distinctive governmental services of the highest quality.