The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines Quality as "the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs". The average person considers Quality as "a robust product or service that performs as expected".
The quality infrastructure system in any country underpins the quality of a product or service. It comprises of standardisation, testing and measurement, certification and accreditation. The quality practitioners are the professionals operating in the quality infrastructure system, such as auditors, metrologists, laboratory technicians, standards writers, verification inspectors and calibration officers. This system provides an objective means to measure a product or service against a set baseline or standard, whether this is set by regulators in terms of mandatory minimum requirements or by a producer that has a certain brand value that he or she promotes.
Together, as the public sector entities and private sector organisations that operate within the quality infrastructure system, we remain committed to serve South Africa by providing an enabling environment to promote and demonstrate quality.
Our current focus is on our contribution to the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. We aim to support in stimulating growth, jobs and economic inclusion.
Various sectors have been identified to contribute towards this Plan. The quality system is supporting sectors identified in the Plan demonstrate adherence to the required standards. The quality infrastructure enables producers along a particular value chain to cooperate and make sure that their individual products are compatible and can seamlessly integrate into a particular system. This in turn facilitates trade and market access of South African made products.
The topic of the day, Covid-19, has focused our efforts and has demonstrated what can be done if we all work together towards a common goal.
We hereby declare our commitment to a joint endeavor to provide the necessary support for the South African economy to achieve the National Development Plan goals of reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality.
