Implement global standards, firms urged

on October 14 every year.
Mrs Odour said developing countries such as Zimbabwe and Kenya should increase their participation in international standardisation since it is a source of global best practice and technical knowledge.
“Across the world today, standards are a trusted source of management solutions developed with all stakeholders on board. Companies can use them to enhance their processes, regulators can rely on them to meet the needs of their citizens without creating unnecessary barriers to trade and consumers can be assured that products and services are tailored to their best interest,” she said.
“Take, for example, bank cards. The reason why I can shop with a credit card here in Zimbabwe with a card issued in Kenya is because international standards that are behind the scenes enable communication between stakeholders, bank transaction and technical operations.”
She said although implementing standards may initially appear costly, in the long run they help to reduce costs.
Speaking at the same event, Standards Association of Zimbabwe director-general Mrs Eve Gadzikwa said the high cost of quality is not associated with the implementation of standards but on the lack of implemented standards.
“In Zimbabwe we are faced with a situation where most local products are less competitive when compared with imported products due to high operating cost structures affecting local companies. These high operating structures although largely attributed to high cost of borrowing money and antiquated machinery among other economic issues, are also due to the lack of the adoption of standards to reduce waste, better results and increase efficiency,” she said.
Efficiency has come to the forefront as global challenges like sustainability and financial uncertainty mean that organisations are challenged to achieve better results with less waste. This year’s WSD was being commemorated under the theme “Less waste, better results: Standards increase efficiency”.
In recent times, Zimbabwe has seen an increase in companies implementing globally recognised standards.
Figures from SAZ show that at least 108 companies in Zimbabwe have attained the International Standards Organisation 2001:2008 (IS0 2001:2008) certification this year, up from 86 last year. ISO 2001:2008 compels companies to employ quality management systems that guarantee quality product or service.
ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from over 140 countries whose purpose is to promote the development of standardisation and related world activities to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services, and to develop co-operation in intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity.
Mrs Odour also said some of the ISO certification could result in significant energy saving.
“ISO 50001 Energy Management System has shown that industries that implement it and maintain it can save up to 15 percent of their energy costs.
“In Kenya energy costs account for 30 percent of total production costs, which would mean an overall saving of 4,5 percent. Most banks do not give that much interest in savings,” she said. 
This was particularly critical for countries such as Zimbabwe that are facing energy deficits.