HOW CAN PQA HELP PHILIPPINE ORGANIZATIONS PURSUE PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE, NOW AND POST COVID? 

 

“If you want your organization to thrive and grow during and post COVID-19, look no further than the PQA Core Values.  Begin with “Valuing People”, followed by “Customer-Focused Excellence”. Ensure “Organizational Learning and Agility” and that you are “Managing for Innovation”. Finally, you must have “Visionary Leadership” that is “Focused on Success” so that your organization continues to “Deliver Value and Results”.  The PQA Framework consisting of the Core Values, Criteria, and Scoring Guidelines provides a “Systems Perspective” and a roadmap to Performance Excellence.  Recipients of the PQA have used it even during difficult times. In this pandemic, isn’t it time for your organization to do as well?”

 

Joel Amante, PQA Senior Assessor

Former President of the TQM Foundation

(October 30, 2020)

 

 

“Organizations that have internalized the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) framework can effectively manage the challenges experienced during the pandemic. Organizational Agility and Focus on People can help the Management Team cope with difficulties, while still prioritizing their stakeholders. As an Assessor, I am convinced that companies that have embraced the PQA core values can successfully adapt to the New Normal.”

 

Nestor A. Nuguid, PQA Senior Assessor

Former Manufacturing Director of Tolman Manufacturing, Inc. and now works as an Independent Consultant in the areas of quality management and productivity improvement

(November 5, 2020)

 

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WHAT IS THE VALUE OF BEING AN ASSESSOR? WHY IS THE JOB OF AN ASSESSOR IMPORTANT IN THE GAMUT OF PHILIPPINE QUALITY AWARD (PQA)?

 

“I always subscribe to the thought that the best way to learn is heavily influenced by how much you experience something. Assessing for the Philippine Quality Award is a continuous learning opportunity for me---the knowledge that I gain in every assessment cycle also helps me look at my own organization and think in terms of approach, learning, deployment, and integration. I'm also able to carefully look at how our systematic processes help deliver our results through being able to apply the principles of performance excellence from the PQA. I think that the PQA was also instrumental in helping me improve as a senior leader in my organization. 

 

“I'm always in awe by the many excellent organizations that we assess, and for the assessed organizations that might fall below the expectations of the excellence standards, it's fulfilling to be part of their journey towards becoming better organizations.”

 

Fenilynn Magdalera, PQA Assessors

Senior Operations Manager at Emerson Electric (Asia) Ltd-ROHQ 

(October 29, 2020)

 

 

“Let me start with this ancient proverb “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”

“There is happiness in being a PQA Assessor:

Happiness in Helping Organizations

If being a PQA Assessor means sharing tremendous time and efforts in evaluating applications, then why still serve? What is it for us? For me, it is simple: One finds meaning and fulfilment in life as a PQA Assessor! You evaluate an organization and help them identify their strengths and opportunities for improvement, so they can continue to fulfil their mission and attain their vision. You become part in the realization of the noble objectives of the PQA, which is to improve the quality of performance and to help organizations to become world class and be globally competitive.

Being a PQA Assessor is an opportunity to share meaningful contribution to serve the country. This motivates me to continuously serve for almost two decades now. I pride myself in being part of this noble cause!

Happiness through Continuous Learning

Being a PQA Assessor is indeed one of the greatest educational experiences! Aside from helping others, there is a remarkable continued holistic education and opportunity to learn effective management practices. Personally, participation in PQA assessments based on Baldrige is one of the most complete, integrated, comprehensive training and development opportunities currently available.

Happiness through Networking

Being a PQA Assessor means meeting friends and making new friends. There is always room in the PQA for more friends. We are able to mingle with fellow assessors, judges, award manager, administrator and other stakeholders of the PQA. There is fun being with them, while doing the assessment. You learn from them and they learn from you.

“So, if you are looking for HAPPINESS. Together, let us continue to find meaning in our lives. How? I invite you to join me and be a PQA ASSESSOR!

 

Angelica C. Fraginal, PQA Senior Assessor

Managing Director, ACF Consultancy and Training Services

Board Trustee, Philippine Society for Quality

(November 5, 2020)

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT MOTIVATED / INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PQA ASSESSOR?

 

“Being part of the implementing agency back then and promoting the program, it has been a challenge for me to see the assessment in an assessors’ lenses. After joining another agency, I challenged myself to learn more about organizational development that is beyond the four corners of a classroom. I opted to have the first-hand experience of what customer service is, of what does valuing workforce means in an organization, and measure every processes that will enable us to improve and be able to apply the criteria in my current organization if not within the team. Learnings are insurmountable and sometimes overwhelming with the current workload. But the best part of being a PQA Assessor is? It is giving your precious time to help organizations grow and improve, hoping with the significant amount of time allotted in the assessment, I am able to give hope to the next generation that this country can be at par with others.”

 

Sofia Paula Fulmaran, PQA Assessor

Senior Corporate Planning Analyst, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

(November 2, 2020)

 

 

“With the Philippine Quality Award, the country and all corporations and organizations therein are aware of the definition of performance excellence and the steps in attaining this end.  This inspires me as an assessor knowing that I am an instrument to seeing a competitive and better Philippines in the coming years.  

 

“Indeed, we cannot sustain or improve on what we cannot measure and the PQA criteria for performance excellence is a good yardstick on how far an organization has achieved.  It teaches us that excellence can only be obtained by consistently doing things right and trailblazing in the industry our organization belongs to.

 

“Personally, the invaluable lessons I have gained as a PQA assessor enabled me to look at existing systems in a different perspective. It taught me to unlearn and relearn concepts on quality management that I thought I already knew.   The PQA experience opens my mind, enriches my knowledge, and broadens my understanding while keeping me grounded.    

 

“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of our government’s journey towards a Philippines for the world.”

 

Ma. Felma Tria, PQA Assessor

College Director, Southville International School and Colleges

(November 5, 2020)

 

 

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN ASSESSOR BEEN SO FAR? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

 

“I have been an assessor since 2015 and thus far, I am still learning and discovering many techniques about the assessment process and the PQA criteria itself. It is demanding but challenging; tiring but fulfilling; difficult but personally rewarding.”

 

Jayson M. Barlan, PQA Assessor

Lyceum of the Philippines University

(November 4, 2020)

 

 

“To become an Assessor is a vocation, it is a continuing journey, it is a concept of give and take, a mutual relationship that needs to be nurtured from time to time.  

 

The assessment process has taught me to be more detailed, logical, precise but with a heart. Indeed, it is a challenge to apply it in our respective organization but with the right frame of mind,  the right tools shared by my co-Assessors/Mentors during training and actual site visit, it hastens my skill and I become more appreciative that an organization has continually improve to be more competitive. 

 

Lasly, to feel blessed that I came across various inspiring personalities that helps define why an Assessor exist

Ira Ben A. Rambano, PQA Assessor

Quality Assurance Manager, Abojeb Company, Inc.

(October 30, 2020)

 

 

“As a life-long learner, being a PQA assessor is one of the best opportunity to experience learning every time you serve. The lessons are many but this one is pretty special.Constant in every cycle is seeing the earnest effort of each Filipino applicant organization zealously aspire to live and breath quality.The award is a demanding competition of stringent tests, yet year after year I see companies step up to the plate.It is deeply comforting and inspiring to see this evolving culture of quality management among the private and the public sectors. It is this commitment to improve their quality practices and performance that makes all the long hours spent on their application so worthwhile.”

 

DR. MARISSA MARQUEZ-LIM, PQA Assessor

Medical Director, Cuidad Medical Zamboanga

(November 5, 2020)

                        

 

WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU GAIN AS AN ASSESSOR? HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ALSO BECOME AN ASSESSOR?

 

“The journey to performance excellence started in 2013 when  with I was with Lyceum  of the Philippines University as we applied for the PQA.  It was a great opportunity to learn about the unique and yet, similar criteria with other QAs that we have undertaken. The next  logical step   was when DTI invited representatives from PQA recognized organizations to be part of the pool of assessors.  The training as well as the yearly calibration activities provide assessors with updates on new performance excellence examples as well as learning opportunities with colleagues from different or similar industry sectors.  It is truly a multi level learning, from great intellectual stimulation due to critical analysis, professional update on QAs and personal development allowing for social interaction which one can bring back to the organization or with personal development.    I invite people who are interested to join the roster of PQA assessors as part of their lifelong learning journey!  It feeds the heart - people interaction, the soul - a sense of accomplishment and the brain - intellectual calisthenics!”

 

 

Ma. Christina Aquino, PQA Senior Assessor

Former Executive Director for Linkages and Standards, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila

(October 29, 2020)