International Standards Accreditation and Quality Management Standards (QMS) for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME's) in India: Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

The Indian MSME sector has played a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country. It has been providing and enhancing employment opportunities, helping in industrialization of rural & backward areas, thereby, reducing regional imbalances, assuring more equitable distribution of national income and wealth. However, many MSME's are struggling to maintain and sustain quality standards and compete confidently in global marketplaces. Accreditation in International Standards, adoption of the latest Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology Tools (QTTs) are instrumental in assisting MSME's in their efforts towards quality assurance across all fronts. While some of the MSME's are yet to comprehend the benefits of such accreditations, others are encountering challenges in having the same realized. Awareness and promotion of the assistance provided by the Central & State Governments, in accordance with the above schemes and initiatives, needs to be publicized and informed to entrepreneurs in all possible forums such as entrepreneurship development programmes, workshops and training programmes organized by the Ministry of MSME or any of its allied KVIC / KVIB / state DIC's to enable the enterprises to raise their quality standards to be on par with the industries across the rest of the world.