The 38th Korea National Quality Award Convention took place at COEX in southern Seoul on Nov. 21 to evaluate the quality management practices of the industrial community and to renew their determination to ensure global standard quality management.

Hosted and organized by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), under the umbrella of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and the Korean Standardization Association (KSA), the convention was attended by roughly 1,600 people, including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Vice Minister for Industry and Technology Yoon Sang-jik, Kim Chang-ryong, chairman of the Korean Standards Association, the chiefs of economic organizations, and award winning businesspeople. 

The KSA has organized the Korea National Quality Award Convention as an annual event since 1975 to award prizes to corporations or those who contributed to quality management and product innovation in a bid to awaken the significance of quality management and publicize it. Five hundred and two companies have won quality awards, 1,774 people have been presented with prizes for their contribution to quality management, and 1,326 people have been inducted as quality masters. 

A KSA official said the convention was designed to explore companies found to have a competitive edge in the areas of quality, customer satisfaction, and strategic planning so latecomers can benchmark them. The KSA also expects the convention to serve as an opportunity to enhance the morale of employees and entrepreneurs across the nation and renew their resolve, he added. 

During the event, attended by top-rated quality management employees and businessmen, the coveted Order of Industrial Merit, Gold Tower, went to Kim Jong-sung, CEO of Rocket Electric Co., in recognition of his role in continuously conducting quality management activities for his 33-year career in the Korean battery industry. He has been credited with his contribution to developing alkaline batteries and film lithium batteries for the first time in Korea as well as creating jobs by raising the portion of revenues from exports to 68 percent through the exploration of foreign markets. Kim has also been praised for establishing a green management system by developing such eco-friendly products as Korea’s first mercury-free and cadmium-free batteries.

KEPCO KPS CEO Tae Sung-eun and Moonchang Co. CEO Moon Sung-ho each were honored with the Order of Industrial Merit, Silver Tower. Tae was praised for his roles in achieving the feat of replacing a pressure tube for a heavy water reactor, which normally takes 60 months, to the shortest time of 28 months, becoming top in the segment among power companies. Moon was praised for taking the lead in R&D and quality management activities related to stainless water tanks. Moonchang has become the first Korean company to be certified with the KS certificate for developing the nation’s first cylindrical stainless water tank, and the company has won the Korea Excellent Technology Award for developing the industry’s sole panel-type stainless water tank. 

In the category of entities for quality management, 13 companies, including S&T Dynamics, were presented with the Presidential Award. S&T Dynamics was praised for its contribution to improving the nation’s fighting power and national self-defense by developing advanced arms based on principles of coexistence and communication. The company was also honored for exploring overseas markets with a partner in German automaker Benz and for its contribution to quality management for posting profits for an eighth consecutive year since 2004. 

Thirty people were inducted and given a plaque as Quality Master of the Year in recognition of their demonstrating craftsmanship for quality management and conducting exemplary activities.