Prioritise standards

TANZANIA: AS the country fairs well as the middle income, there is every reason for manufacturers to take and implement instructions given by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to prioritise standards.

The Head of State issued the directive on Friday when launching the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC), cementing that manufacturers should prioritise and uphold high production standards for all goods.

As President Samia said, any product bearing the ‘Made in Tanzania’ trademark must meet stringent quality benchmarks, reflecting the nation’s reputation for excellence. Production standards are paramount because any product produced under the ‘Made in Tanzania’ brand must be synonymous with the high standards that the name Tanzania represents. I ask manufacturers to produce at acceptable standards.

Industrial production standards are guidelines and specifications that ensure consistency, quality, and safety in manufacturing and industrial processes. These standards, often developed by organisations like ISO, are crucial for global competitiveness, efficient operations, and consumer confidence. They cover a wide range of aspects, from product dimensions and materials to environmental impact and worker safety.

EACLC, as President Samia put it, is not meant to compete with established local markets like Kariakoo, but rather to complement and inspire them to adopt modern practices. Kariakoo traders therefore, should visit the centre, learn from its technology-driven operations and improve transparency in business transactions.

These facilities are expected to reduce the cost and time of transporting goods, enhance efficiency and increase the competitiveness of Tanzanian products both locally and internationally.

Standards are documented agreements that provide criteria, methods, processes and practices for industrial goods. They can be norms or requirements, and they cover a wide range of aspects from product design and manufacturing to performance and safety.

What is the purpose of the set Standards? There are several: Ensuring Quality and Reliability: Standards help ensure that products meet minimum acceptable quality levels and perform as expected is one of them.

Another is promoting safety: They minimise risks to users and operators by establishing safety protocols and design guidelines.

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They facilitate interoperability: Standards ensure that products from different manufacturers can work together seamlessly.

There is an issue of streamlining production: They simplify product development and reduce time to market. Another purpose is enhancing competitiveness: Standards can improve a company’s reputation and ability to compete in the global market.