Quality Management Benefits

To illustrate the benefits of implementing QM in PACS, a successful case based on the Six Sigma approach is given below. It involves a project aiming at the 2005 Hong Kong Quality Management Award. A brief description of the Award and its judging criteria is given, followed by an outline of the Grand Award holder’s submission and the Project Leader’s clarification of project-related issues during the Judging Panel interview. Hong Kong Quality Management Association and the Hong Kong Productivity Council have jointly organized the “Hong Kong Quality Management Convention” on a bi-annual basis at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre since 1991. The Convention is a renowned quality event in Hong Kong with active participation from both Hong Kong and Mainland China (e.g. over hundred of delegates from various cities of China in 2003). With the rapid development of quality circles in local organizations, the Hong Kong Quality Circle Award was introduced in 1993, being the exclusive award to recognize employees’ effort and contribution towards the improvement of productivity in their industry via quality circles. The purpose of the Award is to reward employees’ contribution in quality enhancement and to recognize the companies’ commitment in quality management. Over the years, award-winners have been recognized for their determination to tackle issues from the grass-root level in pursuit of operational efficiency and effectiveness. This Award offers the participating companies excellent opportunities to benchmark their quality practice among their counterparts and enhance their competitive advantage in their industry. It also improves their corporate image and enhances the morale of the circle members. Organizations with principal activities based in Hong Kong are eligible to compete for the Award. The final and binding decisions on the award are vested with the Hong Kong Quality Management Association and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. To qualify for the award, the participants have to undergo a stringent adjudication process.