The 34th Korean Standards Competition, the annual blow-off for activities of quality management in Korean industry, was held in the Auditorium Hall at COEX, Seoul, November 20. Attendees included the Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Rim Che-Min and 1,700 representatives from the fields of economics and business.

 

This event, supervised by the Korean Standards Association and sponsored by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards of Ministry of Knowledge Economy, was held for the purpose of popularizing and spreading the most effective methods of quality management. In the event, deserved persons and companies will be rewarded as the leader of activities of quality management for the year 2009.

 

Twelve companies, including STX Engine, received awards for the National Quality Prize in the business section as they have sharply contributed to the improvement of consumerism and business competitive power.

MSAUTO Tech CEO Lee Yangsub, AJU CEO Moon Kyu-young, and Hyundai iParkmall CEO Choi Dong-ju received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit and 83 members were commended and honored for popularizing and spreading superb quality management.

Additionally, KumHo Tire, GokSung Factory Jang Yun-Ho and 32 members are the winners of the Quality Artisan Prize, Kia Motors Hwasung Factory Rim Jong-won including 2 members are the winners of the Proposal Prize and Hynix Semiconductor Yichun including 243 divisions is the winner of the Valuable Division Prize.

Since 1975, this competition has produced many prizes such as the 414 Quality Management Award, 3,701 Valuable Division Prizes, 1,242 Quality Artisan Prizes, 64 Proposal Prizes and 1,526 Man of Merit Prizes.

Quality management has sharply contributed to the rapid growth of domestic industry by improving the quality of goods and strengthening the industrial physical constitution since the Industrial Promotion Corporation started functioning in 1973 and the Industrial Standards Act was established in 1961.

Especially, the dedication of these industries provided an opportunity for the Korean economy to make an end of IMF support and established the foundation for the country to join the ranks of advanced countries. As a result of its effort, the Korean economy achieved $371 billion in exports in 2007 since $100 million in exports in 1964.

Business firms producing highquality goods will be leaders of the 21st Century, since consumers' needs are growing stronger and becoming more diversified in the global market.

Even in the US, dishonorable experiences have weakened their leadership in the global economy due to a $100 billion trading deficit and another $100 billion financial deficit in 1980.

In order to make up for it, the US government has been promoting the new types of quality management activity nationally to accelerate their economic recovery. In support of this they established the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1987 to improve the industrial physical constitution of the US.

Additionally, an awards ceremony is continuously being held as a regular annual event under the supervision of the president to promote national interest.