ZED (Zero Effect, Zero Defect)
The Quality Council of India (QCI), Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) jointly have come up with very innovative proposal called “ZED Maturity Model” which derived its name from our honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s speech while launching “Make In India” and “Zero Defect, Zero Effect”campaigns. He urged Indian industries to adopt clean technologies in order to have zero defects in their products and hence zero effect on the environment. This can surely make Indian manufacturing industry a global competitor.
So far, most of the Indian manufacturers have very low consciousness about quality as well as environment. In the past few decades, many organizations have improved the quality of their product and services to remain competitive but concern about environment is still very low. Better quality can have immediate impact on top and bottom line but most of the organizations still see environmental compliance as an added expenditure only.
Indian Government has setup a “Japan Plus Team” that will do the performance assessment of SME in India. Accordingly, ZED rating based on 61 parameters will be given which will have lot of thrust on quality and environment. Government is also planning to give financial assistance to upgrade the technologies and enhance skills of youth so that SMEs become internationally competitive. My view is that in the coming time, Indian manufacturers and business media are going to witness a rising ZED movement.
5 tips to improve ZED rating:
1. Keep an eye on government schemes as regards to ZED and take their advantage if those are appropriate to your business.
2. Align the quality desired by your customer with your system and processes.
3. Do technological up gradation wherever feasible.
4. Do the environment impact study of your processes and products to take mitigating measures.
5. Engage your employees in ZED process.