OREANDA-NEWS. January 19, 2010. Ten companies have been awarded with the 2009 Quality Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus. The decision was taken by the commission for prize awarding and approved by Council of Ministers’ Resolution No 19, reported the Official website government.by.

In recognition of implementing highly efficient quality management methods and securing the production of competitive products the prize was bestowed upon the LEMT scientific company (Minsk), the Car Depot Brest subsidiary of the transport unitary company “Brest Department of the Belarusian Railways”, the VEGAS Company (Brest), the Bereza Cheese-Making Plant (Brest oblast), the Brest and Mogilev Meat Packing Plants, the Tourist Hotel (Bobruisk), Soligorsk-based Kupalinka, the Gomel Casting and Industry Standard Plant, the National Airport Minsk.

The diploma-holder titles were given to the Vitebsk Confectionary Vitba, the Brest Central Department Store, Lidselmash, Mogilevkhimvolokno, the Mingaz Company (Minsk), the Belatmit joint venture (the town of Bykhov, Mogilev oblast), Servolux joint company, the Servolux Agro subsidiary (Mogilev oblast).

The contest for the Quality Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus was first held in 1999. More than 160 companies have been awarded so far.

The main criteria for the participation in the contest are achievement of significant results in the quality of products, works or services, raise of their competitiveness, effective methods of quality management, introduction of international standards, and satisfaction of customers’ needs.

Since 2008 the contest has been held in a new way. The new model takes into account modern management trends and is harmonized with the European Quality Award. The criteria of the contest fall in compliance with those of the CIS goods and services quality award. The award reflects the indicators that show the role of the company’s directors, its quality policy and strategy, and the customers’ satisfaction with the quality of goods and services. The new model will help make a more detailed appraisal of the quality management activities of the companies.

A legal body with any form of property can compete for the award. The award is divided into four categories such as the production of non-foods, food stuffs and agricultural goods, the production of technical and industrial goods, and rendering of services and execution of works. The nominees will be also divided into three groups, according to the number of their employees: less than 250 people, from 250 to 1, 500 people, and more than 1, 500 people.

The decision on the award is made by the Council of Ministers of Belarus. The winners are given diplomas and symbols of the award. In addition, the winner will have the right to use the image of the award in labeling their goods, advertising and documentation.

A catalogue of the winners and awardees is published annually. The catalogue is sent to the Belarusian agencies abroad.