From Monday October 9 to October 13, 2023, Rwanda hosted the 40th meeting of the ‘ISO Technical Committee 176’ on quality management systems and quality assurance. ISO/TC 176 is technical committee 176 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), responsible for quality management and quality assurance.
The annual meeting is a unique convening opportunity for timely discussion on emerging trends and challenges related to International Standards and their role in achieving the global sustainable development agenda.
The ISO/TC 176 meeting saw the participation of delegates from more than 35 countries coming from different continents.
The Director General of Rwanda Standard Board (RSB), Raymond Murenzi, said that Rwanda joined the International Organization for Standardization as member body in 2003, and since then it has recorded a remarkable increase in participating in standardisation activities of different ISO technical committees where it is represented by Rwanda Standards Board as member body to ISO.
"This meeting of the ISO TC 176 being held this week, is the third ISO TC meeting hosted by Rwanda where the first meeting was for ISO TC 283 on occupational health and safety in 2018, while the second one was for ISO TC 323 on circular economy that was held last year,” he said.
He said that participating in international standardisation was an effective platform to raise the uptake of use of international standards and their role in international trade.
World Standards Day
This meeting coincided with World Standards Day, to be celebrated on October 14, under the theme "Standards for sufficient and healthy food towards social economic development.”
"The celebration is to pay tribute to the collaborative efforts of thousands of worldwide experts including members of ISO TC 176 who develop standards and it has been a culture for Rwanda, to celebrate the World Standard Day to increase the uptake and implementation of standards,” Murenzi noted.
RSB will also launch the annual standardisation awareness campaign which will continue even after the meeting.
"In the framework of hosting this 40th ISO/TC176 meeting, and in the perspective of promoting the use of international standards; on Friday, ISO 176 delegates will join actors from the hospitality industry to share experience, expertise on how standards should enable sustainability in tourism and hospitality industry in Rwanda,” he said.
He said Rwanda remains committed to continue increasing its participation in international standardisation activities coordinated at ISO level.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Richard Niwenshuti, commended the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for the good collaboration and support to its members, including Rwanda, in advancing and improving national quality systems through standardization and other related programmes.
"Rwanda participation in ISO activities has significantly increased and we are committed to keep the same pace. On the side of the Government and the Ministry of Trade and Industry in particular, we will continue to support the standardisation activities and those related to national quality infrastructure,” he said.
He said as indicated by the recent update from ISO, the ISO 9000 series of standards has undergone almost exponential growth since it was first launched in 1987.
"Organisations and companies implementing and certified against ISO 9001 are currently more than one million, from over 170 countries,” he said.
However, he said statistics indicate that the level of implementation of Quality Management Systems in developing countries remains too low comparing to developed countries.
For instance, the total number of certified companies in EAC partner states including Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is around 207 companies/organizations while it is 1074 in Singapore.
In Rwanda, five years ago, no company had the certificate but currently there are over 20 certified companies and others are on course.
"Rwanda, as a country with economy based on service and industry, with a contribution to GDP of more than 45 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively, needs to see our income from these economic sectors increasing and these should be catalysed by a quality management system,” he noted.
Rwandan goods and services on global markets
Niwenshuti said the service sector including tourism and hospitality industry, financial services, professional activities, education and other services from public institutions should take advantage from the work of the ISO/TC 176 towards achieving national policy and strategic objectives as stipulated in Vision 2050.
"We want Rwandan goods and services to reach global markets and vice-versa.
We will continue to strengthen our quality infrastructure systems, upgrade our trade facilitation ecosystem and promote the institutional collaboration framework and international collaboration in the area of standardisation to ensure effective implementation of international standards towards international trade promotion,” Niwenshuti added.
Jeffrey Hunt, the Chairperson of ISO TC 176 said that standards apply to all levels of business or government or other service organisations mentioning small and medium sized businesses and organizations.
"We are looking at a number of emerging trends around new technologies, and how that is affecting the implementation and adoption of quality standards.”
He said the number of certified companies is expected to increase in Africa.
"As African countries are adopting standards, you will see the value of that and the benefits that it brings and you will start to see those numbers increase relatively quickly,” he said.
Isaac Ndayisenga, the Managing Director of Ufaco Garments Ltd, said that quality management system certificates have helped increase their sales by 30 per cent.
"Our brand visibility got a boost on both local and international markets as it increased trust from our clients in us. We got the certificate three years ago and our sales increased by 30 per cent on the international market,” he said.
Jose Alcorta, the Head of Standards Development at ISO added: "We are happy to develop international standards that provide solutions to challenges facing countries, industry or service providers. We appreciate Members and Partners’ participation in activities to develop and raise awareness on standards. We call for more African countries to join in and participate in the works of different committees.”
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) acts as a bridging organisation in which a consensus can be reached on standards and conformity assessment solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society.
These activities are carried out by ISO technical committees (ISO/TCs). These committees are made by National Standards Bodies (NSBs) of countries, each per country. ISO/TC 176 Quality management and quality assurance was established in 1979 and is responsible for standardisation in the field of generic quality management systems.