In a bid to recognise MSMEs demonstrating outstanding performance in manufacturing, the Chennai-headquartered, National Institution for Quality and Reliability (NIQR) has instituted “NIQR-Dr V Krishnamurthy Medal for Manufacturing Excellence”.
The award will be at par with the Malcolm Baldrige Award and Deming Prize in terms of the stringent selection process, scrutiny, and evaluation, the institute stated. NIQR envisions the medal to emerge as the most coveted recognition for MSMEs in India, as currently there is no award, based on global standards, for the MSMEs in India.
Padma Vibhushan Dr V Krishnamurthy is a pioneer in bringing significant transformation in quality through participation of MSMEs in development of both private and public sector for their growth. He is also known as the “Father of Public Sector Undertakings in India” for his leadership and successful contribution in turning around PSUs like BHEL, SAIL and GAIL into the most profit-making industry in India and globally.
K Manikandan, President, NIQR, said that MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, and continue to play a pivotal role in the development of industries in many nations, including India.
Recently, NIQR has also signed a MoU with the American Society for Quality (ASQ), South Asia and are in talks with counterparts in several countries for the promotion of excellence in quality among industries, especially MSMEs.
Rajasekaran, Immediate Past-President, NIQR, and Chairman of the Core Committee for NIQR-Dr V Krishnamurthy Medal for Manufacturing Excellence, noted that the objective of the award is to bring about a spirit of competitiveness among NIQR’s work towards manufacturing excellence. The award would benefit not only the recipients but the entire supply chain of the given manufacturing sector.
Dr V Swaminathan, Senior Vice-President, NIQR, said several MSMEs in the Indian industry, especially, the automotive industry, are certified to quality system certifications like ISO 9000 as well as industry specific quality system standards. He added that they have been practicing Total Quality Management (TQM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean Manufacturing and 6 Sigma for over four decades now.