EWSA seeks standards certification

A total of 104 employees of Energy Water and Sanitation (EWSA) have completed a week-long training on the necessary requirements to be certified by Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS). “EWSA had some standards and measures in place already but we recommended what achieved in terms of equipment, safe water supply, size of pipes, to meet Rwanda’s standards,” James Sano, the EWSA’s Deputy Director General, said. RBS has among its obligations, setting up desired standards to be met by all product manufacturers and service providers in Rwanda’s private and public institutions. The firms which meet the standards are given the prestigious Quality Management Systems (QMS) 9001 - 2008 certification. Over the week, the agency recommended to EWSA the standard of equipment such as water pipes and laboratory appliances, and measures to be put in place to ensure safe water and electricity supply. The executive team was also enlightened on upholding good management skills such as record-keeping, quality procedures and in-house training. According to Sano, the move to secure RBS’s certification was mainly aimed at improving the company’s customer relations. “When you are certified by RBS, it means that your customers can trust your products and goods. We, thus, hope to improve our relations with them – the success of a firm depends on customers.” The Deputy Director General also mentioned that by observing RBS’s recommendations, EWSA hoped to avoid unnecessary losses. He said, “...for example, some pipes do burst soon after being purchased when they do not meet the minimum standards as set by RBS. Some employees are also not productive at work. But we will not face such problems again because of RBS’s help.” The two institutions are set t sign a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to achieve the standards required for certification. Ends