FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF JRS SOLUTIONS MRS SESHME HOLLOWAY HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS!
The CSERI hosted a heat-firing session at the Durban Botanic Gardens, where quality management systems were outlined to the SMMEs registered for the Incubation programme.
Centre of Social Entrepreneurship Director, Mr Solomon Nyamurima, welcomed the student SMMEs and delivered a presentation based on Quality Management Systems. He highlighted the importance of conducting quality checks when running a business.
“It is of fundamental importance that you do quality checks when you are running a business. There is no excuse in saying you do not have quality controlling management systems. You need to properly manage quality and meet your customers’ needs and consider a customer-focused quality plan.” Said Nyamurima.
“Quality isn’t an accident. Everything about your business has to be of quality. Successful companies make a plan and work hard to improve their quality every day. This should be everyone’s responsibility within an organization or company.” He added.
Nyamurima also emphasized on having company policies. He advised the SMMEs to set and develop policies.
Guest Speaker, Founder and Director of JRS Solutions, Mrs Seshme Holloway delivered a presentation on ISO and outlined the importance of being ISO certified as a business owner. ISO is defined as the International standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Organizations use the ISO to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirement.
Seshme joined the Incubation program when she started her business and now she has a turnover of about R10 million yearly. She provides electronic services to various companies, including DUT and Transnet.
She shared the following tips and her experience with being 10 years ISO certified.
- You should have a list of every supplier that supplies your business.
- Have a procedure; control your documents, risk management. Have registers (Non Conformance Register).
- Have customer satisfaction/complaints (Let clients or customers rate your service)
- Have a training plan. You must have a record of training for each staff, training matrix of projected training.
- You need to have management review meeting, minutes recorded.
- You need to have contracts in place
- Vehicle register. Check your car’s service due-date, check your mileage.
- Quality objectives/measurements. You set the things you are going to measure.
“As SMMEs you should understand that ISO is accessible and you can do it. ISO covers quality management services and SABS regulates it. The ISO certification makes you attractive to corporate and international clients. It also improves customer satisfaction.” She said.
The SMMEs learnt a lot from this session and judging from their engagement throughout the whole session, they will sure get ISO certificates for their growing businesses.
Photographer: Bheka Nxumalo
Nomvelo Mkhwanazi
