The DOST Regional Office No. IX together with the DOST top management, 20 DOST Technical Staff (DTS) from the 16 DOST Regional Offices in the country, SME-Beneficiaries, and consultants from Quality Partners Company Ltd., successfully concluded the 1st cycle of the knowledge transfer activities and conducted the “Knowledge Transfer Project’s 1st National Symposium” with the theme: “Approach to Resiliency, Road to National Recovery” under the PCIEERD-funded project “Knowledge Transfer (KT) to DTS: Catalysts to MSMEs’ Gaining PQA for SMEs” from 9-10 June 2022 with a total of three hundred forty-two (342) participants from all over the country.
DOST IX Regional Director Martin A. Welcomed the participants and presented the Knowledge Transfer Project’s Rationale during the opening of the event. While DOST Undersecretary Sancho A. Mabborang mentioned in his message during the opening program, “Once all the strategies are implemented, management facilities in place, and the workforce empowered, your firm will be well on its way to achieving stability in terms of work quality, productivity, and business profitability – the three contributory factors towards performance excellence”.
The project is being implemented in phases for 3 cycles with knowledge sharing as the final phase of each cycle through the national symposium. The 2-day event provided the SMEs an opportunity to share their experiences from the cycle 1 implementation of SUGOD for Total Quality Management (TQM) that resulted to some major improvements in their company; and to showcase initial gains in terms of the improvement in quality, productivity, and profitability of their firms. The 16 SME beneficiaries are as follows:
- VFM Food Products – Region CAR
- Agri-component Machineries and Construction Corp. – Region II
- Herbanext Laboratories, Inc. – Region VI
- Angel Farmers Gourmet Corp. – Region III
- C and H Cosmetics Industry – Region IVA
- Rejano’s Bakery – Region IVB
- Emmanuel Pastries – Region V
- Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corp. – Region I
- Diamond Noodles Factory – Region IX
- Wood Tech Builders - Region IX
- Aretei Foods Corp. – Region NCR
- MAFFISCO-MPC – Region CARAGA
- Rodriguez Burger and Bread Corp. – Region VIII
- SLERS Industries - Region X
- Woodworks Collection Inc. – Region XI
- Kablon Farms Foods Corp. – Region XII
Worth mentioning are some of the significant impacts of the KT Project cycle 1 implementation on the SME operations shared by the DOST DTS-partners were the following:
Ms. Maria Angelika P. Lomibao, Operations Manager of J. Emmanuel Pastries from the Bicol region shared these lines during her knowledge sharing, “SUGOD for TQM contributed huge impact in our company, especially in this post-pandemic situation, we are able to have an appropriate and concise organizational structure will give the organization a better perspective on how it can be able to help in achieving the company’s vision, mission, and goals. Goals or missions are achievable once they are simplified and direct objectives that are doable by each department or individual. Embracing change will lead you to growth and development. It will encourage innovations, maximize and develop skills, and improve the employees’ morale”.
Ms. Christine Jane B. Coca-Roque, General Manager of Diamond Noodles Factory from Zamboanga Peninsula cited three important contributions of the KT Project in their firm: “(a) Developmental tools and requirements needed for the crafting of a Strategic Plan and Preparation of the firm’s Organizational Profile, (b) Formation of the Work Steering Committee (WSC) and its subsequent Task Forces (i.e.5S) and preparatory for the Human Resource Development (HRD), (c) The SUGOD Approach towards Total Quality Management (TQM).”
Ms. Tricia F. Castrodes, Chief Operations Officer of Aretei Foods Corporation from National Capital Region also gave her testimony, saying, “we really value na nandito kami kasi we know that if we do align or kahit makarating man kami sa level na yon, alam namin na malaki pong effect, benefit na makukuha ng company namin. And we are not looking at it for short term, talagang nakikita namin, we will do anything para tuloy tuloy si Aretei Foods sa paglago, tuloy tuloy ang journey to quality. We are very happy and excited. Tapos na tayo sa SUG at makarating na tayo sa O and D. Thank you very much sa pagkabigay sa akin ng pagkakataon to be part of this program especially representing the national capital region"
Another testimony from Mr. Rho Cougee Garrido, General Manager of MAFFISCO-MPC from CARAGA Region stated, “Eto yung mahalagang contribution ng SUGOD for TQM na nasimulan naming na implement at this moment of time, una, the SUGOD for TQM approaches ay nagbigay ng isang systematic way of identifying the gaps, perception at yung understanding ng quality management system through the Climate Survey, nalaman naming yung mga gaps between management and the workers”.
Lastly, Ms. Carmelita R. Reyes, Manager of Rejano’s Bakery from MIMAROPA region also shared her gratitude, “Lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa DOST at isa kami, ang Rejano's Bakery, sa napili sa Knowledge transfer Project towards PQA. Madami ang natutunan namin, malaki din ang naging impact nito sa operation ng negosyo at sa relationship between employer at workers, malaki ang naging improvement ng bawat isa. Kailangan talaga ang ganitong proyekto para sa pag lago at mapaganda ang aming negosyo. Mahirap magpatakbo ng negosyo at mag manage ng tao lalo na at nag iisa lamang akong nangasiwa nito. Pero dahil sa tulong ng Knoweldge Transfer Project, unti-unti naming naisaayos ang pamamalakad nito at naisagawa ang pag dokumento ng kabuuang business operations”.
During the event, an open forum was conducted giving the participants the opportunity to ask questions to the SME Presenters. Awarding ceremony was also undertaken to recognize the DTS who performed well during the cycle 1 implementation.
This management innovation project which is spearheaded by DOST-IX focuses on the transfer of knowledge and technology for Total Quality Management (TQM) innovative approaches to selected twenty (20) DOST Technical Staff (DTS) from 16 Regional Offices in the quest to accelerate TQM acceptance, practice, and sustainability in selected MSMEs following the culture-based Survey-Unite-Grow-Operationalize-Develop (SUGOD) roadmap and framework with emphasis on people development.
For more information, contact DOST-IX PSTC-ZSP at (062) 991-2050/955-0825 or visit our website https://region9.dost.gov.ph/. To be updated on the latest happenings, follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DOSTRegion9 (DOST-IX Press Release).
