We’re proud to share that we are now Singapore Quality Class certified. We made it through successfully despite the stringent requirements and scoring system.
Let us find out more from Chris (CEO and Founder) and Mr Chong (Director of Operations).
Q: What is the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) certification?
A: The Singapore Quality Class (SQC) certification recognises organisations for Business Excellence (BE). It is based on an internationally benchmarked BE framework promoted by Enterprise Singapore. Till date, there are over 2,000 organisations, including Advanced Consultancy, that have received the BE awards and certifications.
Q: Why did Advanced Consultancy decide to apply for the SQC certification?
A: As a business consultancy firm that aims to drive growth for other organisations, we wanted to instil confidence by showing that our organisation is not only capable of achieving business excellence, but able to replicate that for the clients we serve. Having gone through the rigorous BE framework for the certification which involved various processes and activities, we are very confident in providing a holistic view and relevant advice to empower our clients in the pursuit of excellence.
"As a business consultancy firm that aims to drive growth for other organisations, we wanted to instil confidence by showing that our organisation is not only capable of achieving business excellence, but able to replicate that for the clients we serve."
Q: What were the challenges faced, if any?
A: We have quite a lean team and our resources were stretched while we were in the midst of the certification process. Furthermore, we were working on other new initiatives concurrently, such as the 360-degree feedback, employee’s satisfaction survey and ERP. It was fortunate that our employees were able to adapt to all the changes quickly and be actively engaged in these new activities in spite of their busy schedule.
Q: Describe the SQC journey.
A: While it was not an easy journey, it was a rewarding one. One of the new initiatives that was implemented was the 360-degree feedback where we perform a holistic evaluation for each employee. This means other than the management, peers and subordinates of each employee could share their views. Another new scheme was the employee’s satisfaction survey, where we ensured anonymity so as to encourage everyone to voice out their opinions freely. Other than that, we also learned that our After-Action Review (AAR) process could be better structured and implemented after every project or major activity. This is a good practice adopted by companies aspiring to be a learning organisation.
Q: What does the SQC certification mean for Advanced Consultancy?
A: Getting the certification is a testament of our company’s capabilities and the quality of service we provide to our clients. However, we are also mindful that achieving the award is not the end goal, this is actually just the beginning of our business excellence journey. We hope to continue to stay relevant, innovative and provide valued services to our clients.
"Getting the certification is a testament of our company’s capabilities and the quality of service we provide to our clients. However, we are also mindful that achieving the award is not the end goal, this is actually just the beginning of our business excellence journey."
Q: What are your feelings and thoughts after achieving the SQC certification?
A: We are humbled and deeply honoured to be recognised by Enterprise Singapore for showing business excellence in our operandi modus. Our people also feel proud to belong to a SQC organisation. This certification has helped instil confidence in our employees and boost their work performance.
"Our people also feel proud to belong to a SQC organisation."
Q: Any other comments?
A: It is very common for SMEs to firefight every day for survival. Many SMEs, including our company, often make decisions based on limited information or resources. These trial-and-error cost valuable time and money. By implementing the business excellence framework, we go through a systematic and measurable approach in decision making. This adoption saves us from unnecessary time and money wastages.