Excellence key to survive,flourish: PM

Singh was addressing an international conference on productivity and quality.

8220;We live in times of intense competition and rapid technological change8230;Technology is eliminating or at least significantly reducing entry barriers in many industries and increasing the number of providers of goods and services,8221; he said.

Singh said the techniques for improving quality and productivity were not only useful for private enterprises but also for delivery of public services.

8220;In fact they can be used to design government services optimally so that service delivery becomes much-more cost effective and reliable,8221; he said.

Giving example,the Prime Minister said that the productivity technique could be used to enhance agricultural production and improve overall supply chain management.

8220;Today the use of technology in planning and supply chain management has enormous potential to improve productivity,reduce cycle times as well as inventory levels drastically8221;,he said.

India8217;s agriculture which feeds about 70 per cent of its people suffers from supply chain management,leading to bouts of food inflation now and then.

This area is receiving attention of the government after the weaknesses in the food supply management have come to the fore.