Scheme to help small businesses win QA certification

22/2/94

More Western Australian small businesses would be helped to join the Quality Assurance (QA) revolution which is transforming the State's manufacturing and service industry sectors, Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan said today.

He said a new 'Small Business Improvement Program' would provide dollar-for-dollar contributions for approved QA training and certification services.

"The program, funded by the State Government, will make these services available to businesses which are too small to be eligible for support through the joint State-Commonwealth NIES-Better Business Program," Mr Cowan said.

"It is especially suitable for firms in regional areas and the Department of Commerce and Trade will make a major effort to promote it to country businesses.

"In some cases, country firms may be eligible for a contribution of up to 75 per cent of the cost of a service."

As well as promoting the program through the Statewide business enterprise centre network, the department had appointed a field officer to its Bunbury office to work with companies in the South-West and Great Southern regions.

Mr Cowan said Western Australia was already gaining measurable benefits from the more than 600 enterprises which were QA certificated.

To gain certification, a firm must ensure that every step in producing a product or service conforms to internationally recognised standards.

"Businesses find QA is a very good management system that is making them more competitive. It also gives them access to contracts with major Government and private purchasers which require QA," he said.

"For example, the adoption of QA has helped WA's manufacturers increase their contribution to the State's export earnings from two per cent to almost nine per cent in less than a decade."

Under the scheme, companies not eligible for NIES (National Industry Extension Scheme) services may have access to:

On an individual company basis:

·       NIES QA Training Workshop $300 per person up to a maximum of $2,100 per company on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

·       Initial Quality Audita maximum contribution of $750 per company on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

·       Quality Assurance Certificationa contribution of up to $2,000 per company on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

On a collective basis:

·       Group Certification Scheme $3000 (Consultants must be QSA approved)

Media contact:  Peter Jackson 222 9595