June 2013
13
News briefs
Catch up on the latest news and developments at Crown Paints
Painters’ training gathers speed
One could say that painters are the backbone of Crown Paints’
business. As the people who apply the product to walls and other
surfaces, painters, besides distributors and retailers, are the other
key specifiers who drive sales.
But painters are even more critical because to a significant degree,
they determine the customer’s experience with the product. A bad
paint job certainly means a dissatisfied customer even where the
quality of the product is not in question.
For this reason, Crown Paints has embarked on an aggressive
training program targeting painters. The objective of the program
is to equip them with enhanced knowledge and skills in the use and
application of coating solutions. This will in turn help them earn
more money.
Crown Paints CEO, Rakesh Rao says the training program has been
expanded to various regions in the country as the devolved system
of government takes root.
Rao extols Kaizen values at OPI conference
One is judged by the company they keep. Crown Paints strives to
not only keep good friends but compete with the best. This is one
of the reasons the company sponsored this year’s Organizational
Performance Index (OPI) conference held in May at the Laico
Regency in Nairobi.
The conference theme was ‘Shaping the future for competitive
excellence using innovation, information and knowledge
management.’
Crown Paints CEO, Rakesh Rao who was one of the keynote
speakers noted that Kenya’s business environment was becoming
increasingly dynamic and competitive. “Local firms must
embrace mechanisms of continuously improving their systems
and processes to make themmore competitive. OPI offers a
comprehensive mechanism for doing so,” said Rao.
OPI seeks to foster excellence in management and recognizes and
rewards companies that continuously enhance their operational
efficiencies. Business leaders in Kenya have been pushing for the
wide adoption of OPI as a way of promoting a culture of excellence
required to attain Vision 2030.
The OPI model was created three years based on identified success
factors underpinning the Company of the Year Awards (COYA).
Crown Paints scoops top financial honors
It was a moment of celebration for Crown Paints staff when the company was announced the winner of the 2012 Company of Year Award
in the Financial Management category at the colorful COYA Awards gala night held in November.
Speaking after receiving the award, an elated CEO Rakesh Rao termed it as the recognition of the firm’s continuous focus on improving
its operational systems and processes. “We are more than delighted in being bestowed with this honor. It is a clear demonstration
of our commitment to excellence.”
The awards are based on the Organizational Performance Index (OPI) introduced by the Kenya Institute of Management in 2010.
