Features
How standards promote business
The production of any commodity begins with the use of raw materials from its early stages to the finishing point when such raw materials are shaped into the desired products needed for the production of specific products to satisfy consumer needs.
At the raw materials stage, applicable standards guide producers to choose suitable raw materials for the production of goods. A woman who is preparing a certain type of soup in this country does not go in for just any kind of ingredients such as tomato, garden eggs, pepper, etc but rather goes in for quality ingredients that will help it come out quality and tasty soup.
QUALITY FRUIT JUICE
Similarly, if we are bent on producing quality fruit juice, we would not just go in for rotten pineapple or pawpaw but rather those types that are in very good condition and are good enough to give us tasty juice. This is what all industries do to ensure that the outcome of production is good enough to satisfy consumer needs.
Thus, the early stages of production require that we make use of raw materials that are good enough to assist in the production of quality products. It is said that “garbage in, garbage out”. What this means is that if the input in form of raw materials is of inferior quality, what will come out as a final product would also be of inferior quality.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
The implication here is that right from the beginning, we need to be guided by the relevant standards needed to make it possible for us to come out with quality product that satisfies consumer needs. In other words, appropriate standards guide us to select and process the most appropriate raw materials for the production of quality products. It is these standards that guide us to produce the most appropriate raw materials and at the same time help to produce reliable and quality-oriented finished products.
Apart from guiding us in the selection of quality raw materials, standards also help us in the processing of the products midway to the finished end. The production process may be of different types but a particular type of processing scheme may be selected all in an effort to ensure that what comes out eventually is of high and acceptable quality. This is why we say that applicable standards help us in choosing the right process for production.
RELEVANCE OF STANDARDS TO PRODUCTION PROCESS
If there is any particular production process that is unsuitable, the use of standards will help us to know that there is the need to avoid such process. Thus, when we make use of relevant applicable standards, such standards help us to avoid unsuitable production processes.
When particular production processes are unsuitable, they negate the purpose of production which is to help come out with consumer products that will satisfy the interest of all targeted consumers whether locally or in foreign countries. In other words, applicable standards provide guidance in the selection of production processes for the purpose of meeting customer needs.
STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION
The production process does not only involve selection of suitable raw materials and relevant production processes but also storage and transportation of what is produced. The style and quality of storage and the conditions under which the products are stored are all very important. If the storage is not done under an appropriate temperature, products of high quality may go bad after production. Storage is, therefore, important. In the same way, the transportation of such products must be carried out in appropriate vans or vehicles and kept under the appropriate temperature. Medicines constitute a good example here. Also, Fan products like those from FanMilk must also be transported appropriately otherwise they will go bad and disturbed the stomach of consumers who take them in.
Appropriate storage and transportation are carried out or done according to applicable standards. It is these standards that will give an indication regarding the size of the van for carrying the products and also the temperature that must go with the products. All this helps to show that the use of relevant standards help us to avoid unnecessary mistakes when transporting goods from the factory to the consuming centres.
In other words, standards guide and help producers to carry out procedures and processes that are appropriate, thereby helping us to avoid any trial and error in the storage and transportation process of goods that are intended for the consuming centres.
END RESULT
When the production process from the raw materials stage to the storage and transportation stage are all carried out appropriately in line with relevant applicable standards, the end result will be quality products that will meet the first class taste of consumers. This means that only quality and satisfactory products would emerge at the end of the entire process. When this happens, we will be able to enter local and external markets and make more profits for the company.
Thus, companies in Ghana that want to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) would have to take advantage and apply standards to what they intend producing for the large African market.
In conclusion, therefore, standards help manufacturers and producers to break into local and international markets. This is possible because such companies, through applicable standards, are able to meet the demand for quality products in line with rising customer demand.
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
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