A guide to company profitability

ONE of the five books that sustainability expert, Tawanda Collins Muzamwese penned in the Covid-19 is “Step by Step Guide to Implementing safety, health, environment and quality management systems”, a book I can call a specialist publication.

This is because the book deals not with everyday subjects but explores the benefits of implementing management systems.

The author also explores the creation of safe working environments and the development of high-quality products through training and raising awareness among employees in organisations.

The 22-chapter book can be used by organisations implementing standards and also prospective firms embarking on ISO certification processes.

“This book takes the reader through key milestones towards certification such as how to carry out gap analysis, handling audits, choosing a certification body, communicating with employees and also an overview of how to handle compliance obligations,” reads a part of the book.

“The quality environment, safety and health standards are developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and can be implemented by any organisation in any economic sector and of any size.

“The standards demonstrate a high level of commitment to sustainable business operations. Standards can guarantee a company’s continued viability, resource savings and incident prevention. Collectively, these benefits can assist in portraying a positive image about the organisation.” (p1) Each chapter of the book begins with a gem on sustainability.

For instance, Chapter One begins with: “The globalisation of the world has meant that drastic changes have to be made in terms of business models, production and consumption patterns towards innovation that allows business and entrepreneurs to stay above their competitors.” (p1)

Furthermore, the book gives insights into how companies can avoid losses.

“When things go wrong in the process due to poor quality raw materials or when products do not meet international requirements, a company has no one to blame if it has not effectively controlled the procurement process. Decisions on supplier selection should be carefully thought out and action should be taken on suppliers who offer sub-standard services.” (p26)

The writer contends that organisations need to start taking sustainability issues seriously and the book also exhorts management to adopt these strategies.

Another key aspect of the book is that it also looks at the shop floor worker, giving guidelines on how organisations can prioritise employees.

The writer also advises on how to deal with difficult managers during safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) management systems implementation.

“You will never succeed in dealing with difficult managers if you are not able to demonstrate how integrated safety, health, environment and quality management systems help the business to be profitable and to achieve cost savings. Most managers are concerned about the survival of the business above anything else . . . ” (p85)

The focus when dealing with SHEQ issues with managers is not about winning arguments.

“The other trait of difficult managers is that they are argumentative and may try to downplay every suggestion or intervention with respect to safety health, environment and quality management that you make . . . Winning arguments without implementing accident prevention measures is futile.” (p84)

Tawanda Collins Muzamwese is an international consultant who has served as director of Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe and lectured at the University of Zimbabwe as well as the Zimbabwe Institute of Management.

He is an environmental, health and energy expert who also writes on topics outside his forte, and also does music.