The winner of the European Quality Prize will be announced in Finland in October 2003. Thousands of European companies will be contending for the prize. The quality prize model is being used for the development of their operations by tens of thousands of organizations in Europe, and between 4,000 and 5,000 companies in Finland. The nomination of Finland as the host of the event is recognition of the fruitful development of Finnish competitiveness. The award requires years of sustainable development work. Of the Finnish companies Nokia with its Mobile Phones Europe & Africa unit won the competition in the 2000 competition.

In Finland success stories are to be found for example at KCI Konecranes with its high-quality cranes and the integration of their maintenance into an all-inclusive service, and the successful blending of the operations of acquired companies into the main company. The Finnish engineering and metal-product company Metso makes excellent use of IT in its maintenance service, in which specialists and the service centres can deal with repairs, maintenance and troubleshooting. The secret of Nokia's success has always been motivating and inspiring people and gaining their commitment in the face of continuous change.

>> www.kcigroup.com
>> www.metso.com
>> www.nokia.com
>> www.laatukeskus.fi
>> www.efqmforum.org

>> World's biggest steel mill at Tornio (19.2.2003)