Valais Excellence is an innovative approach which introduces sustainable management into the heart of SME's (small and middle size enterprises). In the face of globalisation, it offers them efficient tools with which to develop new knowledge and skills. Moreover, it provides a vision and a framework for the promotion of the economic and cultural identity in regions of industrialised and developing countries.
The system proposes simple and efficient solutions covering the major part of key processes in companies. Operating partly on Intranet and Internet, Valais Excellence permits the determination of company processes and links them together. The final objective is their certification. Via a data base, companies achieve real-time benchmarking, thus creating a permanent transfer of skills.
In companies, Valais Excellence opens the access to global vision and provides major benefits: improved performances and competitiveness, enhanced jobs, increased innovative capacity and credibility, reduction of insurance premiums and of costs related to the use of natural resources.
In regions, Valais Excellence strengthens the economic network and structure while increasing their image. This system offers them tools for the clear identification of physical flows (energy, waste, transport) of companies and for the measuring of sectorial performances. Moreover, it demonstrates a unique approach of how regions are able to promote their cultural and economic identity by means of modern tools of sustainable management. It is quite likely that the success of such a system and of a region may be closely linked to this kind of approach.
Valais Excellence was launched 5 years ago in the Swiss Canton of Valais. Focussing initially on the tourism sector, then on all economic sectors, it currently brings together some 70 companies which have committed themselves to obtain the ISO 9001/14001 certification. In a further step, the companies can obtain the label Valais whose fundamental values are: authenticity, intact nature, modern interpretation of tradition and culture, dynamic drive of innovation, and quality of life. Since 2003, the project has also been introduced in Belgium by the Wallone Union of Companies, and in 2005 the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland has likewise decided to implement it.
Valais Excellence represents an encouraging example of dynamism and vision for the promoting of sustainable management in SME's across the world. At the SMIA05 congress, this pioneer approach will be presented by its initiator, Yvan Aymon, Director Valais Excellence, Sierre, Switzerland.
Information:
www.smia.info and
Hubert Klun, Organising Committee: phone. +41 21 646 59 80,
E-mail: hklun@(ch)smia.info
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