Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and  caretaker Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit presided over the fourth annual awards ceremony, held yesterday.

TQA was set up to measure all aspects of a firm's business plan and management, with the objective of improving competitiveness. TQA -  which requires a score of more than 650 out of 1,000 - is considered an international standard on a par with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

But, four of 20 Thai companies won the Thailand Quality Class (TQC) award, which requires a score of between 351 to 650.

Somphob Amattayakul, president of the TQA National Committee, said although no Thai firm received a TQA, the four TQC winners had excellent corporate management. "In fact, both TQA and TQC require intense qualifications," he said.

The four TQC winners were Chaiyaboon Brothers Co Ltd, CP Retailing and Marketing Co Ltd (a maker of frozen foods), CP Retailing and Marketing Co Ltd (a bakery) and PTT Plc's gas-separation plant.

The scoring system was divided into seven main parts: corporate leadership and strategic planning; customer targeting and marketing; analysis and assessment; information technology and human resource management; production management; and business results.

Phanit Laosirirat, executive director of theThailand Productivity Institute, said the institute would like the award to reflect real quality without political influence.

"The companies that win the award will have to work for years to improve their competitiveness," she said.

The areas in which Thai companies obtained low scores were strategic planning and human resource management.

Watcharapong Thongrung

 The Nation