Standard operation procedure (SOP) is one of Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je's favorite words. In fact, the National Taiwan University Hospital, where Ko worked as a doctor before going into politics, is not the only institution that has an SOP. Many other institutions and organizations in Taiwan also have their own sets of procedures to be followed when carrying out an operation.
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) has been promoting SOP management for years. To encourage the establishment and usage of SOP in all industries, the BSMI set up the "National Standardization Award" 16 years ago. Each year, companies, organizations and individuals that have made significant contribution to standardization are awarded after careful assessment.
The 16th National Standardization Award and promotion forum was held on October 14 of this year at the BSMI assembly hall. This marked the first time that a field audit was conducted to assess each candidate contending for the Corporate Standardization Award, the Organization Standardization Award and the Standardization Visionary Award. Judges visited the candidates in order to conduct a fair evaluation of the planning, execution and efficiency of all the SOP models.
Seven award winners across four categories were decided after preliminary review, field audits and final assessment. Joy Industrial Co., Ltd., Fuji Xerox Taiwan Corporation, Wei-Gong Memorial Hospital and Lucidity Enterprise Co., Ltd. received the Corporate Standardization Award. The Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center was awarded the Organization Standardization Award. The Information and Communications Research Laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute received the Standardization Visionary Award. Hsu Shih-hui was awarded the Standardization Achievement Award. Certificates were presented by BSMI Director-General Liou Ming-Jong at the award ceremony.
Director of the Chinese Association for Industrial Technology Advancement Kao Sin-yan and Director of the CNS Certification Mark Association Chao Chih-ching also attended the award ceremony to present awards. Honorary awards were given to individuals with more than 30 years of contribution in the standardization sector, manufacturers that have used the CNS mark for more than 50 years, manufacturers that have contributed to the promotion of the CNS mark and individuals who have come up with extraordinary lesson plans to introduce the CNS mark.
The theme for World Standards Day 2015 is "Standards-the World's Common Language." Standardization plays an important role in the communication between people, machines, parts and products. For example, standard graphic symbols-on wash tags, emergency evacuation signs or electrical equipment instructions-convey information clearly, regardless of what language we use. Standardized measurement units also help to streamline the international procurement process.
Meanwhile, Chinese Culture University Associate Professor Tsai Dwen-ren gave a speech on "Standards-the World's Common Language" at the promotion forum. Awardees of the Corporate Standardization Award also shared their experience of standardization. The event is expected to enhance the public's understanding of the importance of standardization.
Agency in charge: Department of Standards (First Division)
Contact person: Mr. Chun-Jung Chou
Telephone: (02)3343-5100