As the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) observes National Quality Week during October 11 – 17 and World Standards Day on October 14, it is most fitting to place the spotlight on a local company working to implement Standards – Gafsons Industries Limited (Gafoors). This company continues to strengthen its position in Guyana’s manufacturing sector through its commitment to quality and the application of Standards.
Over the years, Gafoors has worked to certify three of its locally manufactured products under the GNBS Product Certification Programme, with its most recent achievement being the certification of its 1,700-litre rotationally moulded polyethylene water storage tank.
The company has a long history in local manufacturing. According to Deputy Factory Manager, Mr. Jitendra Mishrah, Gafsons Industries began operations in 1953 and was incorporated in 1971. Under the leadership of the Executive Chairman, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor, the company has expanded its manufacturing operations significantly over the years. Today, its locally manufactured products include PVC pipes and fittings, polyethylene water storage tanks, shrink wrap, wallboard, silica board and construction buckets, among others. Mishrah indicated that the company is also pursuing several new manufacturing projects, including ultraviolet (UV) boards and Stone Plastic Composite products.
Mishrah explained that the company’s development as a local manufacturer was driven by a vision to produce more products in Guyana rather than relying solely on imported products, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities. He noted that this commitment to local production has allowed the company to expand its manufacturing capacity and contribute to employment in Guyana.
This commitment to local manufacturing has been complemented by the company’s longstanding participation in GNBS Product Certification Programme. Speaking about the importance of standards, Mishrah said, “You can’t have a counterfeit product coming to Guyana, and customers suffer for that. Like somebody is buying a pipe and a fitting, the fitting and pipe are not matching, so that is the reason why GNBS plays a very vital role in establishing production in this country, and that helps the customer; that helps the manufacturer.”
Gafsons’ 4-inch concrete hollow blocks were first certified in June 2019 and are certified to GYS 215:2024 Standard. Meanwhile, its Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes, manufactured by its sister company Plastic Products Limited, have been certified by the GNBS since 2000 and currently conform to the GYS 107:2021 and GYS 99:2021 Standards.
Just last month, Gafsons Industries became the first Guyanese company to achieve certification for its 1,700-litre rotationally moulded polyethylene water storage tanks. The tanks were certified in accordance with GYS 588:2023 Standard, and the company was granted the right to use the National Standards Mark on the certified product.
For Gafsons Industries, product certification provides an important framework for maintaining the quality and consistency of its locally manufactured products. Mishrah described the requirements established by the GNBS as a ‘yardstick’ for manufacturers, adding, “The Bureau creates a yardstick for the manufacturer to follow. That makes us very stringent in following the standard. Once we follow the standard, that makes the product more qualitative to the customer, and they become very comfortable utilising the product.”
The certification process has also resulted in changes and improvements to Gafsons’ manufacturing and product identification processes. In the case of the certified water storage tank, Mishrah explained that the company standardised manufacturing parameters relating to areas such as the weight and quality of the tank to meet the standard’s requirements. Changes were also made to the product’s labelling, with information added to guide customers on installation, manufacturing requirements and other details.
Similar traceability measures are applied to the company’s certified PVC pipes. Certified pipes carry printed information identifying the applicable GNBS certification details, manufacturing date and time, and pipe size. These measures allow for greater product identification and traceability while providing customers with useful information about the certified products they purchase.
According to Mishrah, the GNBS Product Certification Programme has also strengthened customer confidence in locally manufactured products. Certification provides an added level of confidence because products bearing the GNBS certification mark have undergone an assessment process against the relevant standard.
Maintaining certification, however, requires an ongoing commitment from the manufacturer. “There is a constant effort being made to maintain the standard quality for the customer to get the benefit – we always try to improve”, Mishrah explained.
This commitment extends to the company’s plans to pursue certification for additional products. Mishrah said the company is working towards improving other sizes of its polyethylene water storage tanks as well as additional categories and sizes of PVC pipes. Where necessary, this may involve modifications to product designs and manufacturing parameters before the products are submitted to GNBS for certification.
Looking ahead, Gafsons Industries intends to continue improving its manufacturing processes and expanding the number of products that can satisfy certification requirements. Mishrah stated that his company would recommend the GNBS Product Certification Programme to other local manufacturers, noting that greater use of standards can create a more consistent marketplace for both manufacturers and consumers.
Businesses interested in becoming certified under the GNBS Product Certification Programme are encouraged to contact the GNBS Certification Services Department for guidance on the applicable requirements and certification process. For more information, contact the GNBS at 219-0064-66, WhatsApp 692-4627, or visit the GNBS website at www.gnbsgy.org.
