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TÜV Rheinland geared up for bigger market share in the Bangladesh garment industry
The Testing, Inspection and Certification( TIC) industry in Bangladesh is becoming competitive by the day, since the soft goods business, mostly in apparel and footwear, is a huge and continuously growing opportunity market for players of the TIC fraternity. Of late, many new global players have entered the market, while the existing ones are gearing up with more services and better facilities. In this scenario, it is critical to differentiate and partner with customers to stay as the preferred choice of service provider for all TIC activities. TÜV Rheinland, a leading provider of technical services and a German giant in this segment, has recently added more space, equipment and services, with a new leader at the helm. Apparel Online catches up with Mohammad Syful Islam Khan, the young and dynamic Managing Director of TÜV Rheinland Bangladesh, on the challenges ahead and the direction this company will take in the coming years.
“ A responsive and accommodative approach towards customers has been a major differentiator for our business and has increased our penetration in the garment industry.”
– Mohammad Syful Islam Khan
Mohammad Syful Islam Khan( L), Managing Director with Monjurul Hoque, Marketing and Sales of TÜV Rheinland Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd.
The first aspect that stands out during the interaction with Syful is the passion and commitment he has for both the Bangladesh garment industry and the organisation.“ The apparel industry is the biggest industry in the country and it is because of this sector that Bangladesh, today, is on the global map. Bangladesh offers competitive advantages in apparel manufacturing, second only to China. According to reports by global research agency, McKinsey, Bangladesh may surpass China by 2023 in apparel manufacturing,” asserts Syful. This growing industry has not only supported the country with foreign revenue that contributes to a strong economy, but has also created huge employment opportunities for workers and professionals alike.
After successful stints at other global MNCs, Syful joined TÜV Rheinland Bangladesh in 2012, a year after the company began operations in the country. At that time, the company consisted of just 30 people in Dhaka. Much has changed since then. Now the company has over 270 employees in Bangladesh, its own accredited lab and qualified product inspection teams, all managed by local talent at the top. This is a remarkable journey within a span of just seven years and that too at a time when the TIC industry is under pressure to deliver as per norms set on high standards and in light of the Rana Plaza tragedy.
What makes TÜV Rheinland a success story in Bangladesh?“ Besides our impeccable records in testing and our commitment to safety and quality, we support our customers as per our company norms and follow those guidelines to make them successful. The question we ask our customers all the time is-‘ How can we support you?’ This collective attitude to customer service has helped us develop a loyal clientele that knows we are with them, always,” says Syful. He recalls an instance when a lab was opened for extra hours for an urgent testing requirement.“ Such a responsive and accommodative approach towards customers has been a major differentiator for our business and has increased our penetration in the garment industry”, states Syful.
As partners in change, TÜV Rheinland has always supported the industry in its transformation, spearheaded by the Alliance and Accord. The company has provided services in the areas of Factory Audits, Technical Audits, Social Audits( BSCI, SEDEX), Environmental Management( ISO 14001), Quality Management( ISO 9001), WRAP and Electrical & Health Safety Assessment, besides Management Systems Audits and IMS( QMS, EMS & OHSAS).“ Initially, offering such a wide range of services gave an edge to a TIC player, but now buyers have started giving projects to multiple providers, resulting in smaller ticket sizes. Now, the real winner is the service provider that stays closer to clients and is more proactive with them, both on the buying and manufacturing sides,” avers Syful.
Although a lot of work has been done in the area of structural safety, primarily for inspections and audits, it is not the major focus area for the company. It is in the area of testing where TÜV Rheinland has built its reputation in Bangladesh. Testing based on all international norms – chemical, mechanical and analytical – specific to the US, EU, Japan, China, Canada, UK and Australia, is conducted at TÜV Rheinland labs. To set benchmarks in testing, the company operates ISO 17025:2005 accredited, CPSIA approved labs in Dhaka. Their labs are also provisionally accepted by ZDHC in Dhaka that are well-equipped to handle the challenges of the future,
40 Apparel Online Bangladesh | October 2018 | www. apparelresources. com