Challenges In Quality Management Research Articles

Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Construction Projects in Jimma Zone, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia

The construction sector plays a crucial role in the Ethiopian economy, making a substantial contribution to economic growth. However, various challenges have been identified as impacting the performance and growth of the Ethiopian construction industry. Projects in the Jimma Zone face numerous issues related to cost, time, and quality. This study aimed to evaluate how factors like resource management, stakeholder management, procurement management, and quality management influence project performance in the Jimma Zone. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to employees of Jimma Zone Employers and Contractors. A total of 62 questionnaires were distributed, with an 80.65% response rate, providing sufficient data for statistical analysis. Findings were presented using charts and tables. Quality management challenges included the absence of a quality management system and insufficient management commitment. Regression analysis indicated that resource and stakeholder management factors significantly influenced project cost and time performance, while quality management factors had a positive but not significant impact. Resource, stakeholder, and quality-related factors significantly influenced project quality performance, whereas procurement management factors did not have a significant impact. The study suggests that focusing on resource and stakeholder management could enhance project performance in the Jimma Zone.

Quality Management in Chinese Academic Libraries: A Systematic Review

With global digital transformation and higher education evolution, academic libraries are enhancing their information and knowledge management practices. This study responds to this trend by identifying quality management (QM) models discussed and implemented in Chinese academic libraries, as well as by examining the enablers and challenges associated with QM planning and implementation. A systematic review was executed adhering to the PRISMA guidelines to critically appraise the relevant literature from five international and Chinese scholarly databases. Out of 435 initial records, 52 studies were included based on the established inclusion criteria and quality assessment benchmarks. The results revealed that Chinese academic libraries were increasingly integrating international QM models, including ISO 9000, TQM, and EFQM. This integration was driven by six enablers: four external enablers, including the introduction of QM, government support, technological advancements, and quality assessment practices; and two internal enablers, including developmental needs and cultural emphasis on educational excellence. However, these libraries also encountered six challenges in this process: three external challenges, including rapid industrial evolution, deficiency in comprehensive evaluation indicators, and rigorous ISO audits; and three internal challenges, including resistance to change, insufficiency of motivation for improvement, and inequitable distribution of resources. The findings of the current research could deepen the theoretical understanding of the enablers and challenges of QM in academic libraries from both external and internal dimensions. These findings could also support library management, higher education institution leaders, and policymakers in developing sustainable QM strategies for libraries in China and other countries.

South Carolina Beach Water Quality: Stakeholder Workshop Identifies Challenges, Needs, and Recommendations

Coastal water quality is often identified by diverse stakeholders as a major management challenge but can be difficult to define. South Carolina Beach Advocates (SCBA), a nonprofit organization formed in 2015 to educate the public, governmental authorities, and elected officials as to the environmental, economic, and societal impact of South Carolina's beaches and inlets, recognized this challenge and organized a virtual workshop in June 2022 to explore our beachfront communities' water quality management challenges, and discuss various perspectives on beach water quality. Thirty-eight participants from government agencies, local government, industry, academia, and civic society discussed this important topic and identified challenges and concerns, general requirements, needed new capabilities, and recommendations for next steps. Following the workshop, a Beach Water Quality Subcommittee was formed under the auspices of the SCBA to continue this important conversation.

An efficient key validation mechanism with VANET in real-time cloud monitoring metrics to enhance cloud storage and security

A vehicle-specific network (VANET) in automotive networks is formed along the road unit. There are many challenges in quality management to avoid expensive RSUs and improve the quality management of VANET systems. Our proposed work proposes a new algorithmic programme for organizing the cluster structure and choosing cluster headers (CHs) compatible with VANET. Weighted Cluster Protocol (AWCP) teams nodes at random, so it reaches the best channel by optimizing network parameters. The proposed work with analysis of the AWCP EE-WOA model is an automotive network with selected speed and placement. VANET provides a list of vehicles that failed to interact in the preceding period. System administrators should routinely update the generated keys of all the systems' vehicles, and the system administrator should suspend or revoke the power of scenarios. This validation occurs in the cloud whenever the vehicle generates the best algorithm for identifying keys. The results show that the projected AWCP EE-WOA model outperforms the Weighted Cluster Protocol and AWCP Whale algorithmic program protocols in terms of improved encapsulation potency and movability with a maximum cluster efficiency of 96.84.

Principles and challenges of quality management in primary care

The provision of care is fragmented in the complex field of health care. In order to fulfil the needs of all groups in healthcare, quality can serve as a common paradigm. For lowering adverse events, enhancing efficiency, and improving patient satisfaction, the evaluation of quality in medical settings is becoming more and more critical. The objective of the healthcare system is to give a specific patient the best care possible from a certified practitioner in the right environment. Quality management in healthcare is the management of system designs, policies, and procedures that reduce, if not completely eradicate, harm while enhancing patient care and outcomes. Quality improvement must be ongoing in order to improve efficiency, patient safety, the delivery of evidence-based healthcare, and health outcomes. Hospitals were early adopters of quality improvement but adopting evidence-based interventions is still difficult in many primary care settings. The purpose of this research is to review the available information about principles and challenges of quality management in primary care. Relationship management, customer focus, effective leadership, employee engagement, process approach, and improvement are few of the principles of quality management. Various challenges including severely departmentalized, bureaucratic, and hierarchical structure, professional autonomy, conflicts between managers and professionals among several others are faced in primary care. Research in future can effectively contribute to addressing challenges and developing guidelines for overcoming these challenges in primary care to ensure best quality healthcare services.

The Results of a Study of Students' Attitudes to the Demand for Competencies in the Labor Market

The paper is dedicated to the study of students' attitudes towards the challenges of quality management at the largest higher education institution of Georgia, how students assess the market requirements for competencies, and whether they perceive that they receive proper knowledge relevant to modern market requirements. The aim of the research is: a) to study students' attitudes, how accurately they perceive the labor market attitude towards qualifications, and how much they feel that they are receiving adequate knowledge of the market; B) to develop recommendations for the Faculty of Economics and Business of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University to improve the teaching of appropriate competencies and students' attitude towards the learning process. The paper is based on the university grant of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University: "Study of the compliance of qualifications of graduates with the labor market requirements of Georgia", which was carried out by the academic staff of the Department of Management and Administration. The paper is based on: the analysis of secondary information about the Georgian labor market in general, the Qualitative analysis of the Georgian higher education system and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University educational process management mechanisms, as well as the Quantitative analysis of the study on attitudes of TSU Faculty of Economics and Business students and representatives of employer organizations to the above challenges. The survey was conducted using the anonymous survey method, based on a specially designed questionnaire. Out of 200 pre-selected employees, the questionnaire which comprised 69 questions were completed by 137 employers. And a questionnaire consisting of 70 questions for students was distributed to 511 employed and unemployed students according to the specifics of the content. The data were processed using the SPSS Statistics program, both general frequency analysis and cross-tabulation analysis were performed, as well as the reliability of the data and the level of relationships between the variables were determined on the basis of Chi-Square Tests, Cronbach's Alpha, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Linear Regression. In the paper, the analysis of the challenges identified by the results of qualitative and quantitative research formed the basis for finding ways to improve the learning process of TSU Faculty of Economics and Business and developing appropriate recommendations that we think will help the university and stakeholders interested in this issue/field.

Exploring Barriers to the Development of Home Health Care in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Changes in society’s needs have increased individuals’ desire to be independent and receive health care at home. Home health care (HHC) is one of the main components of realizing these ambitions. However, there is a serious concern about the state of development of the HHC industry in Iran and the quality of its services. This study aims to explore the barriers to the development of HHC in Iran. This qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach was conducted in Tabriz, Iran, from October 2019 to March 2020. Twenty-one key stakeholders including nurses, home health directors, physicians, policy-makers, patients, and their families participated in the study. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a focus group discussion (FGD) and 18 semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s techniques. Data collection continued until saturation was reached. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: quality management challenges, insufficient infrastructure and policy, and political issues. The findings show that applying standard strategies to monitor the quality of services, paying attention to infrastructure, and having a clear framework for policy-making are beneficial for the development of the HHC industry. Health managers can monitor and upgrade the quality of HHC services by defining standards and assessment indicators, as well as providing comprehensive data. It is suggested that legislators consider the principles of community-based accountability, justice, and accessibility their top priority. Moreover, policymakers need to develop a roadmap to reform policies to create the conditions for the development of this industry.

The challenge of quality management in crowdsourced translation: the case of the NGO Translators Without Borders

The rise of machine translation and translation memories along with the technologies of the Web 2.0 have brought about new flavours and workflows, setting new challenging research pathways for translation studies. Emerging crowdsourcing-based models have been presented as de facto mainstream approaches in the translation industry. Therefore, exploring the newborn approaches and processes is a priority for translation studies for better insights and further understanding of relevant impacts that may reach the stage of deprofessionalizing the discipline and marginalizing the profession. To pursue this question, the present paper explores a unique and interesting model of translation that is both crowdsourced and collaborative, the non-profit organization Translators Without Borders or TWB. TWB does not only resort to crowdsourcing to provide humanitarian translation services on pro-bono basis but also maintains a global network of volunteers and deploys a fully fledged environment for translation management as well as quality assurance and control. This paper demonstrates the array of processes adopted by TWB to manage quality and the myriad of challenges it presents. Through TWB model study, this paper investigates the way various theoretical concepts are confronting the industry realities and implications and examines the extent of dynamicity and tolerance thresholds in the application of such concepts.

Nursing Staff Awareness Regarding Challenges for Applying Total Quality Management

Background: Total Quality Management represents a modern management philosophy, established due to the development in all aspects of life in today's world. Aim: To assess nursing staff awareness regarding challenges for applying Total Quality Management at Assuit University Hospital. Research design:A descriptive study convenience sample design with a sample contains all nurses working in General Surgical, Special Surgical, General Medical, and Special Medical departments at Assiut University Hospital with a total number of n= 219. Tools: Total Quality Management Challenges questionnaire is used. Results: Show that above one-third of them agree about all items of challenges for applying total quality management. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences between quality management challenges with personal and occupational characteristics of the studied nurses at Assuit University Hospital. Recommendations: Conduct an awareness sessions about total quality management between nurses at Assuit University Hospital; Conduct a total quality management training or program to all nurses at Assuit University Hospital, And the availability of quality assurance coordinator nurse in each department who works to implement quality policies in the departments and act as a link between the department and the Quality Committee.

Leadership initiatives in response to institutional quality assurance challenges in Tanzania’s private universities

ABSTRACT Higher Education (HE) systems worldwide are undergoing multifarious changes due to pressure engendered by the global need for the knowledge economy. The demand for knowledge economy has created two demands: the need for quality HE education and the high social demand for HE which has resulted in the rapid emergence of private universities (PRUs) the quest for quality education has long been the main foci in HE reforms evident in universities putting in place quality management systems for assessment of university performance. Extant research shows that in Tanzania, PRUs have long been facing quality challenges ranging from lack of adequate and qualified academics to frail quality assurance(QA) systems. Although the existing research on QA challenges in private higher education are numerous and informative, the question on how university leadership responds to quality management challenges and whether or not such initiatives are significant in lessening the challenges remains largely unknown. Therefore, this paper examines the leadership initiatives aimed to respond to QA challenges in Tanzania’s PRUs and on whether such initiatives are useful in addressing QA challenges. The paper contends that private universities need effective leadership and governance to overcome the existing quality challenges.

Gamification and service quality in bike sharing: an empirical study in Italy

PurposeBike sharing (BS) is a phenomenon of growing interest in the sustainable mobility field. In recent years, many governments have implemented concrete actions to diffuse the services in cities, trying to encourage citizens' sustainable behavior. Several mobile applications (apps) related to the mobility sector have embedded gamification mechanics applied in non-gaming contexts, able to create and increase user engagement and to manage users' behavior (Deterding et al., 2011). The main purpose of this study is to understand whether app perception influences gamification, and how gamification improves service quality and user loyalty in BS systems.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the impact of gamification on service quality and loyalty, the study performed secondary data collection and qualitative analysis with in-depth interviews. Thereafter, a quantitative analysis was conducted, and the theoretical model was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM).Findingsfindings showed that the use of gamification mechanics in BS services improves users' loyalty and directly influences service quality. The gamification tool improves users' engagement, transferring rules, facilitating the achievement of goals and quality standards and enhancing the BS usage.Originality/valueThis study uniquely contributes an understanding of the effect of gamification on service quality and loyalty in BS usage. It also provides some insight for companies and policymakers into implementing gamification mechanics in order to address new challenges for quality management.

Pre-closure assessment of elevated arsenic and other potential environmental constraints to developing aquaculture and fisheries: The case of the Mae Moh mine and power plant, Lampang, Thailand

Our assessment of 30 water bodies in the vicinity of the Mae Moh coal mine and power station in northern Thailand does not indicate substantial water quality management challenges to developing fisheries/aquaculture in peripheral reservoirs and streams. Negative water quality issues such as high concentrations of arsenic (2-17 μg/L) and ions including sulfate (868–2605 mg/L), sodium (217–552 mg/L), and total ammonia (<1–5 mg/L) were associated with groundwater and surface water resources on the facility, as well as the stream network draining from it. Total dissolved solids were also very high, ranging from 658 to 3610 mg/L. Six of seven ponds tested had As concentrations in the range of 5–17 μg/L. Although these levels are less than the Thai regulation for industrial effluent, they are elevated over background surface water concentrations. The highest concentration in a contaminated stream was 10.54 μg/L As, which is only slightly above the WHO (2017) regulation of 10 μg/L for drinking water. Ponds, contaminated streams, and deep subsurface water should not be used for fisheries/aquaculture without extensive remediation/treatment. Concentrations of these water parameters in peripheral streams and reservoirs were not of environmental concern. High water hardness (161–397 mg/L CaCO3 and potential ionic imbalances may be the greatest hindrances to developing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in reservoirs in the study area. Routine monitoring of inorganic As species and other contaminants in water is needed to assess the full extent of arsenic risk at the site following closure.

Geochemical, Mineralogical and Morphological Characterisation of Road Dust and Associated Health Risks

Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM10), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples were collected from representative streets (suburban and urban) of the city of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. PM10 emission factors (mg veh−1 km−1) ranging from 49 (asphalt) to 330 (cobble stone) were estimated by means of the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency method. Two road dust fractions (<0.074 mm and from 0.0074 to 1 mm) were characterised for their geochemical, mineralogical and morphological properties. In urban streets, road dusts reveal the contribution from traffic emissions, with higher concentrations of, for example, Cu, Zn and Pb. In the suburban area, agriculture practices likely contributed to As concentrations of 180 mg kg−1 in the finest road dust fraction. Samples are primarily composed of quartz, but also of muscovite, albite, kaolinite, microcline, Fe-enstatite, graphite and amorphous content. Particle morphology clearly shows the link with natural and traffic related materials, with well-formed minerals and irregular aggregates. The hazard quotient suggests a probability to induce non-carcinogenic adverse health effects in children by ingestion of Zr. Arsenic in the suburban street represents a human health risk of 1.58 × 10−4.

The Impacts of Quality System Integration and Relationship Quality on Quality Performance in Supply Chains: An Empirical Investigation in China

ABSTRACT Product-safety incidents and recalls such as automobile recalls by Toyota and a recall of sausages by Shuanghui have raised many quality management challenges and attracted increasing attention from practitioners and academics researchers in recent years. Traditional quality management and quality function development can no longer effectively address these problems, with competition moving from the firm level to the supply chain level. In this study, a holistic supply chain quality management framework on the relationship between supply chain quality system integration, supply chain relationship quality, and quality performance is proposed to improve quality management and mitigate the risk of product recalls. Then a structural equation model is used to analyze these relationships. To test this model empirically, we use survey data from manufacturers in consumer electronics, food, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and toys in China. Our results show that supply chain quality management can help companies achieve high quality. Further, quality system integration and relationship quality have significant impacts on the quality of design and of conformance and are positively related to supply chain quality performance.

Quality management challenges in a dynamic reality of mergers, acquisitions and global expansion

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the challenges facing the quality management system (QMS) of parent and subsidiary companies within the dynamics of multinational mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships, and to present guidelines for developing a global quality strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe quality systems of 18 multinational companies at different stages of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) processes and different global expansion levels were studied in depth using observations, content analyses and interviews with CEOs and operational and quality managers in parent or subsidiary companies.FindingsAs part of the M&A process, not enough consideration is given to the functional aspects and challenges facing the QMS of subsidiaries, and to the integration of the subsidiary QMS into the corporate QMS. The findings highlight the strategic role of the parent company in creating a corporate QMS and developing a corresponding global quality strategy.Practical implicationsThe classification of the challenges facing the parent and subsidiary QMS forms a diagnostic tool that supports a functional preparedness for integrating quality systems, while addressing their local needs, integrating them into the global activity of the system, and utilizing the growing integrative array of resources and capabilities to achieve global value.Originality/valueWhile M&A is perceived as a strategic topic, it has direct impact on the QMS. This study outlines a necessary conjoining of quality management and strategy, which is the key to global quality management.

Quality management in industry 4.0 era

In this era of technology advancement and industrial modernization, the concepts introduced by the German promised a great benefits and widely unexplored opportunities for application in industries. Industry 4.0 concept is one of the heavily discussed topics for academic researcher and practitioners. In this era of consumerism, manufacturing industries are required to manufactured products and services of the highest quality in order to retain competitiveness in the consumers market. The concepts of Smart Factory, Cyber-Physical System as well as Internet of Things and Services offers very capable opportunities and also downside challenges for quality management in manufacturing sectors. Thus, this paper present and discussed the opportunities and challenges in implementation of Industry 4.0 for quality management which triggered by a practical insight of an electronic production and service company in Austria. The findings of the recent study challenges are formed by the three key characteristics of Industry 4.0 which are horizontal, vertical and end-to-end manufacturing integration.

Futuristic Trends in Integrated Logistics Quality

This paper aims at appreciating the need for and relevance of understanding futuristic trends in logistics Quality. In view of the changing nature of global business environment and competition, what are the most immediate impacts on the supply chain and its management? What are the markets and organizational influences that impact on international/global integrated logistics decisions? What are the rationale and quantifiable benefits of integrated logistics quality? What are the important considerations in the development of a modern and intelligent integrated logistics quality programme fit for the twenty-first century? This paper attempts to find out the rational answers of these queries and broaden the perspective regarding the concept of quality, supply chain management, integrated logistics quality and other concerning areas by creating awareness about necessity to manage transition at the right time to more effectively cope with, and manage, the growth process. It is intended to equip the marketers and practitioners to focus on creating a good understanding of the management issues associated with trends in logistics Quality. Once the firm is focused, the approach will be to cover key issues of relevance and provide a good overall understanding of the Quality management challenges in the context of dynamism of supply chain management and Total Quality assurance.

Assessing air quality index awareness and use in Mexico City

BackgroundThe Mexico City Metropolitan Area has an expansive urban population and a long history of air quality management challenges. Poor air quality has been associated with adverse pulmonary and cardiac health effects, particularly among susceptible populations with underlying disease. In addition to reducing pollution concentrations, risk communication efforts that inform behavior modification have the potential to reduce public health burdens associated with air pollution.MethodsThis study investigates the utilization of Mexico’s IMECA risk communication index to inform air pollution avoidance behavior among the general population living in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Individuals were selected via probability sampling and surveyed by phone about their air quality index knowledge, pollution concerns, and individual behaviors.ResultsThe results indicated reasonably high awareness of the air quality index (53% of respondents), with greater awareness in urban areas, among older and more educated individuals, and for those who received air quality information from a healthcare provider. Additionally, behavior modification was less influenced by index reports as it was by personal perceptions of air quality, and there was no difference in behavior modification among susceptible and non-susceptible groups.ConclusionsTaken together, these results suggest there are opportunities to improve the public health impact of risk communication through an increased focus on susceptible populations and greater encouragement of public action in response to local air quality indices.

Novel mathematic models for quantitative transitivity of quality-markers in extraction process of the Buyanghuanwu decoction

BackgroundNowadays, to research and formulate an efficiency extraction system for Chinese herbal medicine, scientists have always been facing a great challenge for quality management, so that the transitivity of Q-markers in quantitative analysis of TCM was proposed by Prof. Liu recently. In order to improve the quality of extraction from raw medicinal materials for clinical preparations, a series of integrated mathematic models for transitivity of Q-markers in quantitative analysis of TCM were established. Buyanghuanwu decoction (BYHWD) was a commonly TCMs prescription, which was used to prevent and treat the ischemic heart and brain diseases. In this paper, we selected BYHWD as an extraction experimental subject to study the quantitative transitivity of TCM. Study designBased on theory of Fick's Rule and Noyes–Whitney equation, novel kinetic models were established for extraction of active components. Meanwhile, fitting out kinetic equations of extracted models and then calculating the inherent parameters in material piece and Q-marker quantitative transfer coefficients, which were considered as indexes to evaluate transitivity of Q-markers in quantitative analysis of the extraction process of BYHWD. MethodsHPLC was applied to screen and analyze the potential Q-markers in the extraction process. Fick's Rule and Noyes–Whitney equation were adopted for mathematically modeling extraction process. Kinetic parameters were fitted and calculated by the Statistical Program for Social Sciences 20.0 software. The transferable efficiency was described and evaluated by potential Q-markers transfer trajectory via transitivity availability AUC, extraction ratio P, and decomposition ratio D respectively. The Q-marker was identified with AUC, P, D. ResultsAstragaloside IV, laetrile, paeoniflorin, and ferulic acid were studied as potential Q-markers from BYHWD. The relative technologic parameters were presented by mathematic models, which could adequately illustrate the inherent properties of raw materials preparation and affection of Q-markers transitivity in equilibrium processing. AUC, P, D for potential Q-markers of AST-IV, laetrile, paeoniflorin, and FA were obtained, with the results of 289.9 mAu s, 46.24%, 22.35%; 1730 mAu s, 84.48%, 1.963%; 5600 mAu s, 70.22%, 0.4752%; 7810 mAu s, 24.29%, 4.235%, respectively. ConclusionThe results showed that the suitable Q-markers were laetrile and paeoniflorin in our study, which exhibited acceptable traceability and transitivity in the extraction process of TCMs. Therefore, these novel mathematic models might be developed as a new standard to control TCMs quality process from raw medicinal materials to product manufacturing.

Geographical Indications in European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA): Challenges in Implementation

Geographical indications (GIs) refer to signs or symbols used on products that have specific geographical origin and possess quality, reputation or distinctive characteristics linked to their place of origin. Hailed as an important tool to protect the living cultural and gastronomic heritage, GIs have been embraced with a long standing strong-form protection among European countries and have gained ground elsewhere around the world, especially in Asia-Pacific region. The European Union (EU) also asserts its entrenched pro-GI position by means of, among others, encompassing its internal benchmark of GI protection in a number of bilateral negotiations with Asian countries such as free trade agreements (FTA) with South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam. Finalized at the end of 2015, European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has marked another successive glory of the EU in line with its strategy to globally transplant its notorious sui generis protection regime of GIs. As an agriculture-intensive country and the first developing partner in Asia that has concluded an agreement with the EU, Vietnam had explicitly recognized the prominence of GIs by establishing and enabling a thorough legal and policy framework for the protection of GIs. This thesis focuses on addressing the foreseeable obstacles encountered by Vietnam when it comes to implementation of GI mandates under EVFTA in light of the relevant domestic institutional framework on GIs and the enforcement thereof by public authorities and interested economic operators. It demonstrates that within the context of EVFTA, the stance of the EU as a bigger negotiating partner with a prominent say in GIs plays a vital role in framing the content of the GIs section. Conclusively, EVFTA has set a more ambitious standard of GI protection as against what is obligated under Vietnamese national legislation. As a result, Vietnam shall possibly need to take serious account of challenges in quality management of GI-denominated products so as to make in-time adaptations in both institutional and practical terms. In addition, possible pitfalls pertaining to business awareness of GI significance, small-scale GI product groups, technical assistance and GI product market entry are also envisaged.