Ceylon Pencil Company wins Taiki Akimoto 5S Award

Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

The Ceylon Pencil Company (Pvt) Ltd walked away with the Taiki Akimoto 5S Award, organised by the Japan Sri Lanka Technical & Cultural Association (JASTECA), recently at the Galadari Hotel.

This is the 15th year of the annual competition, with several sectors, competing for the award. Ninety five entities comprising public and private as well as manufacturing and service sectors, participated.

The first runner-up was Elastomeric Engineering Co Ltd, Horana and the second runner-up was Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, Hokandara. Special Awards of Excellence were given to the Ceylon Electricity Board Consumer Service Centre. Lindula and the Sri Lanka Army's Ranaviru Apparels. Awards were also given under small, medium and large enterprises.

Trade & Service Sector

Medium: National Blood Centre, Narahenpita

Small: Ceylon Electricity Board, Consumer Service Centre, Lindula

Manufacturing Sector

Large: Ceylon Pencil Company (Pvt) Ltd

Medium: Trischel Fabric (Pvt) Ltd

Small: Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, Hokandara

Banking Sector

Small: Hatton National Bank, PLC, Kurunegala

Telecommunication Sector

Large: Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd, Head Office

Small: Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Maradana MDF.

The chief guest was Managing Director of MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd. Dian Gomes who had steered the company when he was the director of Slimline (Pvt) Ltd, Pannala, a subsidiary of MAS, to win the award consecutively for two years, at its inception (1996 and 1997).

He was thereafter asked not to take part, to give other companies a chance.

Guests of honour were Minister, Embassy of Japan K. Shimakazi and General Manager, AOTS, New Delhi office Yasumi Suzuki.

An audit had been carried out on the companies that entered the competition to evaluate their implementation of the 5S concept. Professor Seiichi Fujita was the head of the auditing team.

The 5Ss - Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke (Sorting, Straightening / setting in order, Sweeping (cleanliness), Standardising, Sustaining Discipline / Self Discipline) is a Japanese concept that has gained worldwide currency as effective management tools.

In 1991, Vice Patron of JASTECA, Dayasiri Warnakulasuriya arranged for Dr. Taiki Akimoto to conduct seminars on Japanese management techniques, including the 5S concept to local businesses.

Many companies followed his teachings and implemented the system in their work places.