Conference Theme 2026: The Power of Processes: Quality by Design, Not by Chance
12 - 13 November 2026
CSIR ICC, Pretoria
Join the South African Quality Institute (SAQI), in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), for the National Quality Week Conference 2026, taking place on 12–13 November 2026 at the CSIR International Convention Centre (ICC) in Pretoria as part of CSIR SHEQ Week.
About the National Quality Week Conference 2026
The National Quality Week Conference 2026, hosted by SAQI in partnership with the CSIR, brings together professionals, industry leaders and organisations committed to advancing quality and excellence.
Under the theme “The Power of Process: Quality by Design, Not by Chance,” the conference will explore how effective processes, structured approaches and continuous improvement can help organisations strengthen performance and deliver consistent results.
The event provides a platform for knowledge sharing, industry engagement and professional networking, encouraging delegates to exchange insights and explore practical approaches to embedding quality into everyday operations.
The Power of Processes: Quality by Design, Not by Chance
Every year, SAQI selects a National Quality Week theme that speaks to South Africa’s quality priorities. The National Quality Week Conference takes place during the second week of November, aligning with World Quality Day on the second Thursday of November, championed by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) in London. SAQI considers the global theme and adapts it to the South African quality context.
This year’s theme is “The Power of Process: Quality by Design, Not by Chance.” It focuses on process quality; the vital middle layer between systemic quality and product or service quality. While organisations often focus on management systems and updated ISO standards, or on the final product and customer experience, it is the process that determines whether quality is achieved consistently.
Process quality means designing, managing, measuring, and improving the way work is done. Strong processes prevent errors, reduce waste, improve productivity, manage risk, and enable organisations to respond quickly to change. They ensure that quality is not left to chance, individual effort, or final inspection, but is built into every stage of operations.
Quality by design means creating reliable outcomes through well-planned processes. This leads to better customer satisfaction, greater innovation, stronger performance, and sustainable growth. It also empowers quality professionals to make product and service quality more agile and responsive.
By focusing on process quality, organisations can build a culture of continuous improvement, enhance competitiveness, and achieve long-term success.
Meet the Speakers
Mr J. Ravikant
Topic: Transforming Manufacturing Organizations, The TQM Way - SRF's Journey
Mr J Ravikant is a reputed quality management professional, bringing 35+ years of international experience in the fields of strategy, quality management and operational excellence. As Senior Vice President and Head, Corporate TQM at SRF Limited (a US $1.8Bn global conglomerate), he has led the long-term improvement journey companywide, contributing to two successful Deming Prize challenges. At NQW 2026, Mr Ravikant will share deep insights from SRF’s journey towards excellence and explore how organisations can transform through a renewed TQM way in a rapidly evolving digital and AI world.
Mr Richard Shai
Topic: Re-designing the Auditing Process: What Auditors need to learn in the age of AI Agents
Richard Shai is an experienced quality and compliance professional with expertise in management systems, legal compliance, assurance, and accreditation. As Executive Head of Department for Group Compliance Assurance and Reviews at Vodacom Group, he leads independent compliance reviews and ISO audits across Vodacom’sAfrican operations and subsidiaries, covering ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22301 and ISO 50001. His multidisciplinary background includes Industrial Engineering, Quality, Safety Management, and Law. Richard also serves as a Technical Assessor for the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) for ISO 17021-1 and holds the Compliance Practitioner (SA) designation with the Compliance Institute Southern Africa (CISA). He brings an integrated, practical approach to quality leadership and is passionate about using assurance, governance, and continual improvement to enhance organisational performance and stakeholder trust.
Dr Elsie Meintjies
Topic: Process-Based quality management builds confidence in the South African Essential and Vegetable Oils industry
Elsie Meintjies is passionate about the role of standards, quality assurance, accreditation and metrology in facilitating trade and building the economy. Since 2011, she has been facilitating technical assistance and support projects for diverse projects ranging from regional trade capacity building, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, to multi-party cooperation agreements. She has held senior and executive positions in South Africa, Botswana, and the SADC Secretariat. She was the Chief Technical Advisor for UNIDO, implemented projects in SADC and ECOWAS and is currently working on unlocking the export potential of indigenous essential and vegetable oils.
Ms Nozipho Zondi
Topic: Process Quality as Statecraft: A Framework for Continuous Improvement in Occupational Training
Nozipho Zondi serves as Deputy Director: Quality Assurance, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, with rotational duties as Acting Director: Quality Assurance and Accreditation. In this capacity, she is entrusted with designing, implementing, and sustaining the ISO 9001:2015-certified Quality Management System for the Diplomatic Academy and International School, part of the Branch: Diplomatic Training, Research and Development. She also manages the accreditation system for in-house training programmes, ensuring compliance with SETA and Quality Council standards. Her background includes 20 years in ISO-based quality management, 17 of them in management, and certification as an ISO 9001 Lead Quality Auditor.
Ms Nanda Didiza
Topic: Management of Special Processes in the Rail Industry
An accomplished Engineering Professional with over 20 years of experience across the Energy, Petrochemical, Power Generation, Rail Manufacturing, and Mining Industries. Nanda is a specialist in Materials and Metallurgy, Welding Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing Processes. She currently serves as Special Process Manager at Gibela Rail Consortium, where she oversees special manufacturing processes, ensures compliance with international quality standards, facilitates technology transfer, and drives continuous improvement in the production of passenger trains for South Africa’s rail industry (PRASA). Nanda holds a Master of Engineering in Materials and Metallurgy from the University of the Witwatersrand, a registered Professional Engineering Technologist, she is passionate about innovation, engineering excellence, mentorship, and skills development. Her combination of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and practical industry experience makes her a valuable contributor to conversations on engineering excellence, manufacturing innovation, and skills development.
Dr Vanessa Mothilal
Topic: AI and the future of Quality
Dr Vanessa Mothilal is an established Customer Experience (CX), Quality Assurance (QA) and Training Management Specialist at Digicall. She has dedicated her career to challenging traditional management styles by balancing operational excellence with corporate strategy. A cornerstone of her approach is using a people-first philosophy. A scholar at heart, she bridges professional development with academic rigor, defining workplace culture that is built upon how our customers experience us, and our commitment to service excellence. She holds a Doctorate in Business Management (DBM) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), in addition to balancing her roles as a part-time academic lecturer and researcher.
Dr Zithobile Patrick Toyo
Topic:
Dr Zithobile Patrick Toyo is a seasoned Technical Operations Executive specialising in Quality and Operations Management, with over 30 years of work experience. He is a Qualified Pharmacist(BPharm) from the University of the Western Cape and holds a PhD in Operations Management from the University of Johannesburg. He has also earned an MBA from the University of Pretoria (GIBScampus) and a BTech in Quality from the University of South Africa. In addition to these core qualifications, he has pursued various certifications and training programs in Quality and Regulatory Management and Supply Chain Management, further enhancing his expertise in these fields.
His expertise spans Pharmaceuticals, Veterinary, Consumer Healthcare, FMCG, Food & Beverages, and Medical Devices, having held leadership roles at renowned organisations such as Johnson &Johnson, Pfizer, Roche, Glaxo-SmithKline, Akacia Healthcare, and, most recently, Tiger Brands Consumer Brands. Since 2022, he has served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, where he specialises in Integrated Management Systems and Strategic Quality Management within the Quality and Operations Management discipline. This dual focus on industry leadership and academic engagement reflects his commitment to driving excellence and continuous improvement in both professional and educational contexts.
Mr Tebogo Mowandi
Topic: Analysing Quality at Source in Beverage Manufacturing - A Competitive Advantage
Tebogo Mowandi is an experienced supply chain and operations management professional with expertise in manufacturing, quality, and project management across South Africa and the African continent. He leads the End-to-End Supply Chain operations at PepsiCo Africa FOBO, with manufacturing facilities in countries such as South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Zambia and Zimbabwe. His scope covers the manufacturing capacity expansion with Greenfields, Brownfields projects, enabling the business to support accelerated growth, operational excellence, and the successful launch of several key innovations launches. He also champions PepsiCo’s sustainability program called Pep+, with great successes and positive impact on water, energy, plastic reduction, and positive product choices. He brings a solid track record of a practical approach to leadership and overall business growth across the manufacturing function. He holds a master’s degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and continual improvement.
Mr Kobus Van Wyngaard
Topic: How professional competence strengthens project delivery, reduces failures and improves quality outcomes
Kobus van Wyngaardt is the Registration Manager at the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and has more than 20 years’ experience in the built environment and construction industry. His career spans occupational health and safety, risk, quality, professional regulation and industry engagement. Prior to joining the SACPCMP, he served as National SHERQ Manager at the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), working extensively with industry and government stakeholders. Kobus holds a Master of Science in Management of Technology and Innovation, a Diploma in Risk Management, and is currently completing his LLB.