Strengthening public/private dialogue while increasing awareness of productivity and competitiveness is a core mandate of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC). The NCPC recently brought its productivity message to the sales, marketing and middle management team employed with the Windward and Leeward Brewery at its corporate office in Vide Bouteille, Castries.
Productivity is a measure of efficiency of a person, machine, business, etc., in converting inputs such as labour, raw material or capital in to useful outputs, goods and services. It is a combination of intelligent planning and focused efforts.
This was the primary reason why the Windward and Leeward Brewery (WLBL) and Du Boulay’s Bottling Company (DBC) invited the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) to deliver a presentation to its Sales and Marketing and middle management team.
Corporate Affairs Manager with WLBL/DBC, Fayola Ferdinand said the presentation was well received and timely with many of the managers now eager to share the new knowledge with their staff.
“We work in a fast pace manufacturing and beverage sector so a lot of our employees do have looming deadlines and it’s a fine balance between what is important and to prioritize. So it was a great refresher on how to be more productive throughout the day, throughout the week when you have impending tasks.”
The presentation focused on productivity trends in St. Lucia from 2007 to 2018, bench-marking St. Lucia’s productivity level with that of other regional or similar jurisdictions. Focus was also placed on barriers to productivity in the workplace and how productivity per employee can be calculated.
Penny John, Commercial Assistant with WLBL/DBC articulated her takeaways from the presentation.
“We as employees are considered assets to our companies. The presentation today was very effective and informative and it also reinforced what I already know as an employee at WLBL after 13 years of working within my company.”
The presentation was delivered by Director of the NCPC Fiona Hinkson, who noted that the NCPC is always willing to interface and dialogue with the public and private sector on strategies to improve national competitiveness and productivity.