Decision No. 19/2004/QĐ-BKHCN on the issuance of the Regulation on the Selection of the Vietnam Quality Award

DECISION

Regarding the issuance ofRegulations on Selection of the Vietnam Quality Award

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MINISTERMINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Product Quality dated December 24, 1999;

Pursuant to Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Decree No. 28/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2004 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1352/QĐ-TĐC dated August 5, 1995 of the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) regarding the Vietnam Quality Award;

At the request of the Director General of the Standardization, Measurement, and Quality Control Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. The attached Decision promulgates the "Regulations on Selection of the Vietnam Quality Award."

These regulations shall be applied for the selection and presentation of the Vietnam Quality Award to enterprises participating in the Vietnam Quality Award from 2004 onwards.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and replaces Decision No. 47/2001/QĐ-BKHCNMT dated August 15, 2001 of the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) on the issuance of the Regulations on Selection of the Vietnam Quality Award.

Article 3. The General Directors of the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control General Department, the Director of the Office, the Directors of Provincial and Municipal Departments of Science and Technology under the Central Government, and related agencies are responsible for disseminating and implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

SELECTION OF THE VIETNAM QUALITY AWARD

(Issued together with Decision No.: 19/2004/QĐ-BKHCN

dated July 14, 2004 of the Minister of Science and Technology)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. The Vietnam Quality Award (hereinafter referred to as VQA) is awarded annually to enterprises that have outstanding achievements in establishing and applying quality management systems according to the criteria of the VQA.

The Vietnam Quality Award includes two types:

Vietnam Quality Gold Award;

Vietnam Quality Award.

Article 2. The Ministry of Science and Technology decides to award the VQA to enterprises based on the recommendation of the National Council on the VQA (hereinafter referred to as the National Council) and the General Director of the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control General Department.

1. The VQA is awarded to enterprises of provinces and centrally-administered cities based on the total points achieved according to the criteria of the VQA specified in Chapter II of these Regulations, without limiting the number of enterprises participating in four types of enterprises as follows:

a. Large manufacturing enterprises;

b. Medium and small manufacturing enterprises;

c. Large service enterprises;

d. Medium and small service enterprises.

2. The Vietnam Quality Gold Award (hereinafter referred to as VGQA) is awarded to the most outstanding enterprises selected by the National Council among those awarded the VQA. The maximum number of VGQA awards is six, including:

a. Two awards for large manufacturing enterprises;

b. Two awards for medium and small manufacturing enterprises;

c. One award for large service enterprises;

d. One award for medium and small service enterprises.

Article 3. The selection of the VQA is conducted in two levels: provincial and municipal level (preliminary selection) and national level (final selection). The activities of the VQA Selection Council at all levels are regulated in Chapter III of these Regulations.

Article 4. The Ministry of Science and Technology only considers enterprises that register to participate in the VQA according to these Regulations. Enterprises that have been awarded the VGQA and received a commendation from the Prime Minister may re-participate after three years.

PART II

CRITERIA FOR AWARDS

Article 5. The evaluation for the awarding of the VQA is based on the actual operation and effectiveness of quality management systems of participating enterprises on the basis of seven criteria as follows:

1. Leadership role of the enterprise;

2. Strategic planning for enterprise development;

3. Customer and market orientation of the enterprise;

4. Information and analysis of enterprise operations;

5. Human resource development of the enterprise;

6. Management of enterprise processes;

7. Enterprise business results.

Each criterion is evaluated for each type of participating enterprise and according to the expert assessment method, scoring. The maximum total score of the criteria is 1000 points. An enterprise must achieve at least 600 points to be considered for the VQA. An enterprise must achieve at least 800 points to be considered for the VGQA. The Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control General Department specifies and guides the content of each criterion and the point scale for each category of the criteria.

CHAPTER III

SELECTION COUNCIL

VIETNAM QUALITY AWARD

Article 6. The National Council is established by the Minister of Science and Technology upon the proposal of the General Director of the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control General Department. The number of members of the Council ranges from nine to eleven representatives from relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations. The Council consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and members.

Article 7. The National Council has the responsibility to review and recommend the Ministry of Science and Technology to award the VQA to enterprises among those recommended for the VQA by the preliminary selection council, select the most outstanding enterprises to recommend the Ministry of Science and Technology to award the VGQA and the Prime Minister to present commendations.

Article 8. The Chairman controls the sessions of the Council. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman acts on behalf of the Chairman to control the sessions of the Council. The Council operates on the principle of consensus among the attending members. At least two-thirds of the Council members must attend the sessions. Decisions of the Council are valid only when at least two-thirds of the Council members agree.

Article 9. The Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control General Department serves as the permanent body of the National Council on the VQA and performs the following tasks:

1. Developing and guiding the criteria for the VQA;

2. Issuing specific guidelines for selecting enterprises to be awarded the VQA;

3. Organizing training and instruction for assessors of enterprises participating in the VQA;

4. Implementing assessment activities as prescribed;

5. Creating conditions for the material infrastructure for the activities of the National Council;

6. Performing secretarial functions for the National Council.

Article 10. The Preliminary Selection Board shall consist of 5 to 7 members representing departments, agencies, and related organizations. The Board includes a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and members. Members of the Board are individuals knowledgeable in quality fields and familiar with the requirements of the Vietnam Quality Award (VQA).

The Director General of the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Administration decides to establish the Preliminary Selection Board based on the proposal of the Science and Technology Department Director of the provincial or centrally-administered city. The Provincial or Centrally-Administered City Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Agency serves as the permanent body and performs the function of Secretary for the Preliminary Selection Board.

Article 11. The Preliminary Selection Board conducts examination, evaluation, and selection of enterprises within the province or centrally-administered city to participate in the award to propose the granting of the VQA according to the prescribed procedures. The activities of the Preliminary Selection Board are carried out in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation. The Science and Technology Department is responsible for creating material conditions for the activities of the Preliminary Selection Board.

PART IV

PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION TO PARTICIPATE

AND SELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE VIETNAM QUALITY AWARD

Article 12. Enterprises participating in the VQA must prepare a dossier including:

1. Application form for participation in the VQA;

2. Report on the general activities of the enterprise;

3. Self-assessment report according to the criteria of the VQA;

4. Copy of the certificate confirming compliance with environmental standards.

The participation dossier for the VQA is submitted to the Secretary of the Preliminary Selection Board at the designated location within the specified time limit.

Article 13. At the preliminary selection level, the evaluation and selection process is conducted in two rounds.

- Round 1: Evaluation based on the dossier

Experts appointed by the Preliminary Selection Board conduct an assessment of the enterprise's application dossier (the assessment is carried out independently by at least three experts). The Preliminary Selection Board reviews based on the consensus of the experts' opinions and selects enterprises for on-site assessment.

- Round 2: On-site assessment

The Board sends representatives and experts directly to the enterprises selected in Round 1 for on-site assessment. Based on the unified report of the expert group and the results of the on-site assessment, the Board considers and decides which enterprises will be proposed for the VQA.

The Board operates on the principle of unanimous agreement among present members. Decisions of the Board are valid only when at least two-thirds of the Board members agree.

Article 14. The Preliminary Selection Board Secretary submits the dossier for consideration of the VQA grant to the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Administration. The dossier includes:

1. The participation dossier of the enterprise in the VQA as stipulated in Article 12 of this Regulation;

2. The unified report of the experts along with the summary score sheet;

3. Minutes of the on-site assessment;

4. Minutes and proposals of the Preliminary Selection Board.

Article 15. The National Evaluation Board selects enterprises proposed for the award based on reviewing the assessment dossiers and recommendation documents from the Preliminary Selection Board. In necessary cases, the National Evaluation Board may send experts to review the on-site assessment results at the enterprise to supplement information for the selection process.

The National Evaluation Board decides the list of enterprises to be recommended by the Ministry of Science and Technology for the VQA grant, the best enterprise in each category to be awarded the Gold VQA, and the Prime Minister to confer a Commendation.

For enterprises not recommended by the National Evaluation Board for the VQA grant, the National Evaluation Board informs the Preliminary Selection Board of the relevant province or centrally-administered city to notify the enterprise.

CHAPTER V

OTHER PROVISIONS

Article 16. The annual budget for organizing the VQA is raised from the science and technology affairs budget (SNKH), the Vietnam Quality Award Fund, and contributions from participating enterprises.

1. The SNKH budget is used for publicity, promotion, training, and the activities of the VQA selection boards at all levels and is balanced in the science and technology plan of the provincial or centrally-administered city Science and Technology Departments (Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Agencies) and the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Administration.

2. Contributions from enterprises to support evaluation activities (including dossier evaluation and on-site assessment) and organization of the award ceremony for winning enterprises.

3. The Vietnam Quality Award Fund is formed from voluntary contributions from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals and part of the SNKH budget to support the activities of the Vietnam Quality Award. The operation of the VQA Fund will be carried out according to its own regulations.

Article 17. Enterprises that receive the VQA are permitted to announce, publicize, and advertise through mass media or other forms of introduction about their unit, and use the VQA emblem on their company publications according to the following provisions:

1. The emblem must clearly state the name of the Vietnam Quality Award and the year of receipt.

2. The emblem must not be used in a way that misleads people into thinking that the enterprise's products have received the VQA.

Article 18. The Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Administration organizes an annual award ceremony for enterprises receiving the VQA.

Article 19. Amendments and supplements to this Regulation are proposed by the Director General of the Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control Administration, reviewed, and decided upon by the Minister of Science and Technology./.