Quality Systems and Standards for a Competitive Edge

Quality systems and standards have a significant impact on market access, export growth, productivity, industrial upgrading, diffusion of innovation, and other central ingredients for reducing poverty and enhancing country competitiveness. This book provides a comprehensive evaluation and blueprint for implementing quality systems for private sector development and trade and competition initiatives. By thoroughly analyzing the diversity of institutions, linkages, and arrangements involved in quality systems and by identifying success factors in country quality strategies, this book provides a clear methodology on how to implement effective demand-driven national quality systems. It describes the necessary institutions and jurisdictions, the structure of required services and appropriate programs, the procedures and processes to be followed, the financing requirements and responsibilities, the incentive structure, and the relative roles of the public and private sector. With rich examples and case studies drawing best practices and lessons from around the world, this book will be invaluable to policy makers and development, trade, and competitiveness practitioners confronted with the challenge of building trade competitiveness in the new global economy.