Among its numerous treasures, the street San Agustín in La Laguna hides a little-known gem: the headquarters of the Tenerife Quality Observatory at number 15. The Island Council, responsible for the entity, aims to promote good practices in this area among the businesses of the Island to enhance their competitiveness. The Observatory will facilitate the implementation of new management systems and excellence as another of its objectives, in addition to the usual duty of promoting responsible consumption. This is the main outcome of the visit made yesterday to the centre by the island’s president, Rosa Dávila; the vice president, Lope Afonso, and the councillors for Trade and Business Support, Kirsten Martín, and for Citizen Care and Quality of the Services, Candelaria Padrón. The head of the organization, Luis Domínguez, acted as a guide for the authorities.
Aims
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The aim of this platform, integrated in the area of Trade and Business Support, is to “promote a quality culture on the Island” and “bring together information related to this area” to act as a meeting point for companies, professionals, specialized entities or public and private organizations, as well as the citizens of Tenerife. Dávila, Afonso, Martín, and Padrón toured the facilities accompanied by Domínguez. From the well-equipped kitchen to the supermarket, which goes beyond the props of a real simulation with products donated by companies in the sector, including a small bank to simulate financial transactions.
Impress
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Rosa Dávila, pleasantly surprised by a little-known installation, indicated that the Island Quality and Responsible Consumption Centre – its official name – “acts on two fronts, namely, promoting responsible consumption and driving quality through the Observatory”. She recalled that “18 face-to-face workshops and 10 online are held here, and work is carried out with consulting firms, which in turn are connected with different companies – mainly SMEs”. The goal is “to have a quality department so they can provide adequate service to clients and consumers, in addition to enhancing their competitiveness”.
Address
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Lope Afonso stressed that “it is important to address consumers from the perspective of promoting responsible habits, prevention, and training”. He also emphasized “assisting companies with the promotion and implementation of quality policies”. He clarified that “this not only has to do with good management and preparing products or services but also with the incorporation of corporate social responsibility initiatives”, adding, “also with the development of sustainability habits in their daily activities”. The councillor concluded, “We also aim to reach those small and medium-sized enterprises to promote these types of policies in their establishments.”
Enhance
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Kirsten Martín explained that “the Observatory encourages companies to be better, to move towards sustainability and quality”. She added, “We want to reach out to these small and medium-sized enterprises so they can also promote these types of policies in their establishments”. She listed the objectives of “being more competitive and enhancing the services offered to citizens”. She guaranteed the “commitment” to the centre in terms of “adding value to it, making it visible and reaching the entire Island with the work it carries out”. She added, “This is one of the challenges we have set for this term because the Quality Observatory encourages companies to be better in terms of sustainability, quality, and most importantly, to convey this message to small and medium enterprises to improve their competitiveness”. She assured that “we will continue working, as we intend to reach all sectors of Tenerife”. She concluded by announcing, in addition to thanking for the visit, the initiative for “the Quality Observatory to go out to the Island and reach all productive sectors of Tenerife”.
Generate
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The Tenerife Quality Observatory aims to generate and support initiatives to reinforce the foundations in the implementation and maintenance of quality management systems and excellence in companies and organizations in Tenerife. The web support on which it is hosted (calidadtenerife.org) represents a fundamental tool around which activities of promoting a quality culture, providing information, supporting infrastructures, energizing local stakeholders operating in this field, or preparing situation and monitoring studies, among other matters revolve. The aim of this organization is to unite the reality of quality and consumption, as presented in society. Through this Observatory, the Island Council aims to be the updated reference point on the Island. In addition to quality, other relevant aspects such as the environment, corporate social responsibility, innovation, etc., are taken into account. Among the activities carried out, it is worth mentioning surveillance through the collection, exchange, analysis, and dissemination of updated and reliable information on the situation and evolution of quality in Tenerife; the preparation of studies on the state and needs of local businesses, as well as the local resources available on the Island.
From cents to euros
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The Tenerife Quality Observatory is an initiative of the Island Council aimed at studying, analyzing, and tracking new trends and models in management quality. It is aimed at monitoring and promoting the implementation of that quality on the Island. A commemorative plaque recalls the inauguration in 2002 of the current headquarters, in the time of Ricardo Melchior as the island’s president. However, as explained by its head, the centre is earlier and it emerged in the 90s of the last century. At the beginning of the current century, in the headquarters of the Recinto Ferial, it resolved citizens’ doubts and concerns about the then unknown “cents of euro”.
