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"Quality Movement" in the Western Region ofKingdom of Saudi Arabia: An Insight

Saudi Arabian Quality Council (SAQC) in the Western Region is a Non-Profit, Non-Governmental Society Operating in

the Western Region of Saudi Arabia for the past 10 Years with a mission to : Advance Individual andOrganizational Performance Excellence by providing opportunities for Learning, QualityImprovement and Knowledge Exchange. Over the past 3 years the society has made some tremendous stepspositively towards becoming a major contributor in its efforts to promote quality initiates in the business community inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in General and Western Region in particular.

SAQC has defined 5 Strategic Goals (5Gs) that it wants to achieve:

1. Become Quality's Body of KnowledgeGrow & make SAQC an accessible quality's Body of Knowledge in the KSA Establish Regional Quality Awards

2. Partner with MembersBecome an "Active Partner" with Individuals & Organizaiton in their quality initiatives / journey

3. Provide Quality CertificationAssist Members in Obtaining Quality Certification (Individual Professional Certification & Organizational

Certification)

4. Provide Quality Education / Awareness

Lead Quality Campaigns / Promotion of Quality Awareness in 3 defined Interest Groups, namely - Education,Healthcare & Environment

5. Provide Value-added Products & ServicesProvide Members full value for their membership

SAQC is credited with conducting the first ever Symposium (1st Saudi-Emirati Symposium on Application of Quality inGovernmental Sector). The event was organized to share the experiences of some of the most efficient governmentalsectors in UAE and Saudi Arabia who have made positive changes with the implementation of different qualityprograms in their organization. The Event was conducted during June 2003. Moving forward in this qualitymovement and in line with SAQCs strategic goals, the Society then selected special Focused InterestGroups. Currently 3 such groups (Quality in Healthcare, Quality in Education and Quality in Environment) operatewithin the society independently organizing their activities and contributing towards knowledge sharing.

Governer of Makkah Al-Mukarramah HRH Prince Abdul

Majed Bin Abdulaziz in opening ceremony of Symposium

with SAQC (WR) Director Dr. Ayed T. Al-Amri

Participants of 1st GCC Symposium on Application of

Quality in Governmental Sector organized by SAQC

(WR)

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The 1st GCC Symposium on Application of Quality in Governmental Sector was organized during June 2004 on GCClevel, with participation of some of the leading governmental organizations sharing their experiences. The event was

organized in Jeddah under the leadership of Governor of Makkah Region HRH. Prince Abdul Majed Bin Abdulaziz. .The 2nd GCC Symposium was organized this time in Dubai during May 2005 with overwhelming attendance fromdifferent GCC countries. There is a plan to continue these efforts and have the 3rd GCC Symposium in Muscat, Omanfor the year 2006.

SAQC looking into Saudi Arabia's direction of promoting Tourism Industry, organized the 1st ever Conference onApplication of Quality in Tourism Industry in Asir Region during December, 2004. The Conference wasorganized with the leadership of the Governor of Asir Region, HRH. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal. The event was a grandsuccess.

Improving communication and making the society available to its members all the time was important and to addressthis SAQC went Online (www.sqc.org.sa). Furthermore, utilizing the available technological options, SAQC started itsElectronic Forum to facilitate communication between its Members. Positive changes are now clearly visible in theKingdom of Saudi Arabia as a result of initiates that SAQC and other organizations that have been working on for thepast couple of years. Establishment of King Abdulaziz Quality Award, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad ExcellenceAward, Makkah Excellence Award, and Makkah Region Healthcare Award are some of Initiates taken by theGovernment to encourage Quality in Governmental and private sectors.

There is a long way to go, especially with now Saudi Arabia being a WTO member; SAQC will continue to do its partin making Quality a "Way of Life" in Saudi Arabia.

For more information about SAQC, please log into our website at www.sqc.org.sa.