Governor of SASO and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the fifth National Quality Conference, Dr. Saad Al-Kasabi stressed on the importance of holding the conference, especially during this period where the Kingdom is taking rapid steps towards achieving the Kingdom's vision of Quality by 2020.
He noted that the conference will witness 6 scientific sessions, punctuated by 23 lectures, and 4 workshops organized by SASO under the slogan " Quality … a strategic choice for promoting sustainability & enhancing competitiveness ", at King Faisal Conference hall in Riyadh, Intercontinental Hotel. He also mentioned that SASO has a program for mutual recognition, which is a program created to reduce the importation of goods non-conforming with Saudi standards. By now SASO has reached 13 international mutual recognitions.
Besides, the conference events have been launched today by four training workshops began with a workshop describes the complementary relationship among the continuous improvement of operations , creativity and innovation, and organizational excellence (concepts and practical applications) by Professor Mohamed Aichouni - Faculty of engineering – University of Hail. He spoke about expert bodies vision in quality such as the American Society for Quality(ASQ) , that there is a complementary relationship among quality, creativity and innovation . He added that the quality approaches and improvement tools can be used by specialists in quality and practitioners of quality technologies in order to raise the creative and innovative ability of organizations. That contributes in the continuous improvement for quality and performance and achieving organizational excellence standards.
Aichouni has showed, during the workshop, the concepts of continuous improvement for operations, and creativity and innovation process. He also has presented the tools and technologies of quality according to descriptions approved by the American Society for Quality ASQ (the seven basic tools (2007) - the seven new tools for management and planning (2012) - the creativity and innovation tools (2014). The presentation was enhanced by practical applications from the real experience of the productive and service operations in government organizations, health services, education, and other business sectors..
Professor Hani Al Omari , Saudi Council for Quality, pointed out in the second workshop " "Basics of quality and indicators of performance measurement in customer service", to the link and harmonious relationship in the new orientation of organizational excellence practices among total quality science and the system of performance measurement indicators, as both of them are two sides of the same coin. They are sciences which have achieved remarkable success in the performance of the public and private sectors alike, in alignment with internal and external work environment . This environment focuses on the client satisfaction , exceeding its expectations through a systemic approach that integrates various activities in the establishment; marketing, production, service, training, and health. These activities are based on speed , flexibility, creativity and quality in performance. They interact and integrate with the strategic and operational plans to cope with the competitiveness on the national , regional and international levels through control and measuring working methods quality with what products and services are provided, so as for continued developments and changes to achieve excellence and profitability.
For the third work shop, Mr. Adel Dalal , CEO at Bansal Company for Process Solutions in USA, spoke about quality and leadership and reviewed a number of global models of administrative and institutional leadership.
The fourth workshop was about quality applications " Sigma 6", including ISO 18404 which was introduced to the Middle East for the first time by the British expert, Professor Tony Bendell, who is the CEO at Services Limited and the Chair of the MS6 Technical Committee of BSI.
Tomorrow's events, Wednesday, include an opening lecture by His Excellency Mr. Khaled Al-Faleh, Minister of Health, followed by the first scientific session under the title "Quality and Institutional Sustainability" moderated by Dr. Khaled Awad, a Member of the Shura Council. The second session will be about "Quality in Education", moderated by His Excellency Dr. Naif Al-Roumi. The third scientific session will address "Quality and Competitiveness", moderated by His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud, the CEO of Investment Policies and Regulations at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). The fourth session will be centered on "Quality in Health", moderated by His excellency Dr. Mohammed Khashim.
Wednesday's events of the conference are scheduled to be concluded with an official opening ceremony under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and with the presence of a number of Their Highnesses and ministers. The Conference will continue its events on Thursday with four specialized sessions in creativity and innovation and quality in services in addition to a special session to discuss the national strategy project for quality.
For his part, Dr. Ayed Al-Amri, the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the conference, stressed that the workshops on the first day of the conference included topics and theories that were introduced for the first time to the Middle East, such as ISO 18404 which is related to the Six Sigma applications, introduced in a workshop by the British expert, Professor Tony Bendell, who is the Chair of the MS6 Technical Committee of BSI. Dr.Alamra added saying, " the American expert, Mr. Adel Dalal, also addressed the leadership and its role in achieving quality and reviewed a number of global models of administrative and institutional leadership."