Bismillah
Hirrahmanirahim
Director of SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Centre, Yang Mulia Haji Abdul
Ghani bin Hj Omar,
Distinguished Guests,
Participants of the programme on Total Quality Management.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,
I am greatly honoured to be invited here today to attend and also to
say a few words at the closing ceremony of the Total Quality
Management (TQM) in Vocational Technical and Education Training (VTET),
organized by the South East Asian Ministers of Education
Organization's Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education
(SEAMEO VOCHTECH) in Bandar Seri Begawan.
It
is heartening to note the positive direction of
SEAMEO VOCHTECH reflected through its multi-faceted programmes
and activities geared to identify and help solve common problems
within the SEAMEO Member Countries in the field of vocational,
technical and education. These programmes are focused on
addressing national, regional and local challenges in developing the
competencies required of labour forces to achieve and implement
economic, industrial, business and labour market goals and strategies
through vocational and technical education.
It
is therefore, an ideal medium for the promotion of
regional/international exchange and co-operation in many fields
including education, science, R&D and information dissemination.
Furthermore,
such programmes will strengthen and enhance regional
understanding and cooperation among the peoples as well as contribute
to the closer relationship between the SEAMEO member countries.
The
concept of Total Quality Management was first developed in the United
States, formerly rooted from applied statistics in US manufacturing.
It
is an integrative management concept emphasizing in the continuous
improvement of quality of both products and services and requires
active participation and commitment from all levels and functions of
an organization. The philosophy is quite simple: commitment to good
quality goods and services right from the begining of the production
line while making quality everyone's prime concern and responsibility.
Consequently, in order to achieve success, every member of the
organization must commit to high-standard quality.
I
should like to note several strong points in TQM, among them are:
continous improvement and commitment to quality, the prevention of
defects rather then detecting them, high-level customer support and
satisfaction, and last but not least, quality as universal
responsibility.
If these philosophic terms of TQM are implemented, I am sure
that we will see more professional and world class
organizations.
After
a month of rigorous and intense training in TQM, I should like to
convey my appreciation to all participants who have
shown their interest in this field and also to their greatest
dedication to constructive nation building, through direct dialoque to
achieve mutual understanding and to share the spirit of mutual
co-operation and friendship with their brothers and sisters of South
East Asia.
The
opportunities provided for the participants to live, work and study at
this centre while involving themselves in exchange of opinions and
discussions, are truly ideal and beneficial, which in turn will
certainly help promote deeper understanding and enhance friendly
relations between member countries.
Furthermore,
the emphasis of the Centre which focuses on the improvement of human
resources as well as addressing the priority needs of its member
countries is indeed a perfect formula in creating a "link &
match" between the educational institution to the job market.
In the end, a resourceful of highly-skilled, well-trained and
broad-knowledged labor will undoubtedly become a prime asset and
determining factor in national development, especially as we all
prepare ourselves in entering the next millenium.
In
this connection, I would highly appreciate if the SEAMEO Voctech
Regional Centre could continue to render its valuable support to the
related human resources development programme.
I hope that this kind of programme will not be the last of
which Seameo Voctech Regional Centre offers to us, but will continue
in the year to come.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the
participants for
their success in finalizing this valuable one-month programme.
It
is my sincere hope that by participating in this programme, not only
that the participants have learned and known more about Total Quality
Management, but also able to introduce, implement and evaluate TQM in
their respective institutions. I am also sure that with the experience
you have, you can make the best of the output gained from this
programme for the development of your respective countries.
I wish you all the best and success in your future endeavours.
Finally,
I would like once again to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to
the Director of SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre, Yang Mulia Haji Abdul
Ghani bin Hj Omar for making this programme possible. My thanks also
goes to all of Seameo Voctech staff who have been tirelessly involved
so that the one-month programme on Total Quality Management has been
successfully concluded.
By
saying Bismillah Hirrahman Nir Rahim, I hereby declare the programme
of Total Quality Management officially closed.
Thank
You,
Wassalammualaikum
Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuh.
Bandar Seri Begawan, February 27th 1999
