News Release Archive
InNOVAcorp--QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY INITIATIVE
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Maintaining a competitive business edge in today's business world
isn't easy. Nova Scotia companies are rising to the challenge
through hard work and a commitment to quality. Today, over 60
Nova Scotia companies were honored in Halifax for their
achievement of registering to ISO 9000 quality standards.
At an event hosted by the Quality and Productivity Initiative
(QPI), the companies were acknowledged for their progress.
Per capita, Nova Scotia is leading the rest of Atlantic Canada by
60 per cent, and all of the U.S. and Canada combined by 30 per
cent, in ISO 9000 registrations. The total number of ISO 9000
registrations in Nova Scotia has gone from three to 65 in just
over three years. With a mandate to educate companies on the
importance of quality systems, QPI has been a catalyst in this
dramatic change.
"From the beginning this government has been working to reach an
important development goal, making Nova Scotia an international
centre of excellence in innovation. By improving our companies
processes for producing products and services, we will do just
that," said Premier John Savage, who presented commendation
awards to the Nova Scotia companies.
Mary Clancy, MP, representing Secretary of State Lawrence
MacAulay, federal minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency (ACOA) said, "In Nova Scotia, the federal
government, through ACOA, has been promoting quality as a key
ingredient to improving our competitiveness and our economy. ISO
is a global standard which can be used to measure a company's
commitment to the international marketplace. Nova Scotia
companies are leading the way."
QPI manager Gerry Archibald said, "We have provided quality
assessments to almost 80 companies since 1994, and half of the
ISO 9000 implementations in Nova Scotia have been supported by
QPI and qualified QPI consultants."
The Quality and Productivity Initiative, in addition to
performing site assessments, assists companies through ongoing
mentoring assistance, helps companies access financial
assistance, helps with planning and implementing quality and
productivity measures, and offers resources in the form of books,
videos, standards and articles and connects clients to qualified
QPI consultants and courses.
QPI staff, located in offices in Sydney and at InNOVAcorp in
Dartmouth, currently serve over 75 clients and respond to about
150 requests for assistance each year.
QPI is managed by ACOA and InNOVAcorp and funded through the
Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION program.
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Contact: Valerie Bellefontaine 902-424-8670 Extension 158
David Kaulback 902-426-4238
NOTE TO EDITORS: Backgrounder and a listing of ISO 9000
registered companies is available by calling 1-800-670-4357
or 1-902-424-4492.
trp Jan. 30, 1997 - 5:10 p.m.
