Public transport technology company, TCIThoreb, is ready to sell its high-tech solution for public transport management in global markets after receiving an International Quality Accreditation Certificate from DQS, a leading German Quality Systems Auditing Company. The accreditation follows only months after the company graduated from pre-incubation programme at The Innovation Hub to its Business Incubator.
Acquiring international quality accreditation in two areas, an ISO 9002 for management practices and a QS 9000 for manufacturing, was a priority, as this is a requirement for TCIThoreb to manufacture locally, but operate internationally, says CEO Mthembeni Mkhize.
The process comprised an analysis, evaluation and review of the business management operations in order to create policy manuals, an internal audit and an external audit.
As was the case in preparing a business plan for graduation into Business Incubator, Mthembeni tackled the task by himself - without the help of consultants. Over the past few months he has been burning the midnight oil to acquaint himself with quality management systems in order to be able to implement them into his own company. "Going through the process has changed our whole team's attitude to business. We realised that quality assurance is an encompassing and ongoing endeavour, not merely a focus on products and services. It requires a quality-mindedness and input of all employees."
As part of the obligation of ongoing improvement, he is currently preparing for an Environmental Standard Specification Accreditation (ISO 14001) and the ISO TS 16949, which is the latest version of technical accreditation.
TCIThoreb's strategic business is in the field of public transport. Through innovative technology, the company offers a world-class system integration experience and customer forecast on-site programme management. The two main products are provision of a computerised electrical system (ELSY) and of real-time information for the transport industry. It has major safety benefits for people using public transport.
The young company joined The Innovation Hub's pre-incubator two years ago with little but "dreams to participate in the public transport industry", says Mthembeni. This was in response to a request for a proposal by Transnet for improved data-integrity systems, a challenge that was grist to his mill. A former architect turned urban designer; he had developed an interest in solving urban transport problems.
Talk over a cup of coffee with Swedish Ambassador Mrs Helena Nilsson on unrelated business, led to collaboration with Thoreb, a Swedish IT heavyweight in this field. TCIThoreb was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2001 with the signing of a memorandum of intent. Thoreb would provide skills transfer, act as a further instrument for the development of new markets in IT services and products, and also as a possible base for related products. The company also benefited from the Swedish SA Business Partnership Fund, an initiative to stimulate growth by supporting viable business partnerships between Swedish and South African Enterprises.
TCIThoreb did not win the Transnet tender, "but a relationship was forged," says Mthembeni. Currently negotiations between TCIThoreb and the City of Mogale are at an advanced stage about a number of products as well as training by TCIThoreb in its use.
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