Speaking at the inauguration of the Sixth Quality Summit organised by the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII) on Tuesday Bakht said, "we have attempted to streamline and simplify procedures and systems to enable Indian industry's access to technology and lowered costs. I am sure industry will not lag behind in taking advantage of the liberalised economic set up".The industry minister complemented CII for its efforts in promoting quality consciousness and organising the summit.

Bakht further said that there was a need for caution on two fronts--in the desire to achieve quality we must not lose sight of the need to maintain quality as well as create an Indian definition ofquality that is not benchmarked with the best practices around the world.

"At the same time I would not like to see quality standards becoming impediments to trade and sustainable development in the globalising economy", Bakht added.

Speaking on the occasion, CII president Rajesh V Shah said that for the chamber the road ahead was, greater use of contemporary tools of quality such as daily management and total productive maintenance, spreading the message of quality in the services sector such as, hotels, banks, health care, more wide-spread application of TQM in education, and, focusing on improving governance through the introduction of TQM principles involving a partnership approach with the Centre and the states.

"Our vision in CII is to have companies which would become global benchmarks for quality and competitiveness", Shah said.

The 1997-98 CII-Exim Business Excellence Award for quality was presented to Maruti Udyog Ltd. The jury, headed by Sundaram Clayton Ltd managing director VenuSrinivasan, had cited MUL's excellent manufacturing operations, sound management of supply chain, high degree of employee involvement and strong visible involvement of senior management in promoting total quality culture as the reasons for giving the award to the public sector car maker.

MUL managing director R S S L N Bhaskarudu and chairman Y Saito received the award from Bakht.

The citation said MUL had made a significant impact on the automobile market in the country and set new benchmarks for Indian industry in many areas. The award entries were assessed by a group of trained assessors drawn from different disciplines from industry and short-listed companies were site-visited, said Suresh Rajpal, quality summit chairman.

The CII-Exim commendation for 1998 was given to Tata Iron and Steel Co.Bhaskarudu said that it was one of the happiest moments for MUL as the award had come at a time when the company was celebrating its 15th anniversary.

"This award has reaffirmed to us that we are on the rightpath i.e the path of Total Quality Management, the path of customer satisfaction, and the path of continuous improvement", Bhaskarudu said. "It has also recognised the efforts of every employee at Maruti over the last 15 years", he added.The MUL managing director informed that all company employees take part in suggestion scheme and quality circle activities. He said that the entire plant is shut down for two hours every Wednesday of the month to facilitate holding of quality circle meetings.

According to Bhaskarudu, emphasis upon involving everyone in the improvement process had yielded rich dividends as during 1997-98, 42,000 suggestions were implemented in the company with a total cost savings of Rs 75 crore.