Bharat and the Plywood QCO Conundrum

As the implementation dates/days for the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) from DPIIT, GoI for Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters, as well as Wood Based Boards, notified during August 2023 come nearer, noises from the industry seem to be only increasing, rather than subside and get to work.

Before the QCO – MDF, Particle Boards, and Plywood manufacturers – all in the same boat, had only one problem. That was unstoppable dumping of cheaper import goods into our Bharat markets – increasing each month. Everyone wanted to curb imports strictly, and wanted a level playing field for domestic players.

Now, the governance swings into action and rightly notifies the QCOs at their earliest pace, as they cannot block/impede/enforce direct stoppage of international trade for such non-critical common products.

BANG! Suddenly, this becomes a bombardment against the very existence of our plywood industry. Noise begins against the QCOs now. Fear, panic, anxiety, urgency…typical sector response and behaviour.

The following logical questions/points remain, as we await the unleashing of QCOs implementations in the coming days –

• The QCOs have been specifically designed to help cut imports, and help domestic players boost their efficiency, productivity, market-share, as also for generating jobs/work.
• This is the most powerful opportunity for all our domestic manufacturers – micro, small or large, to step up their game.
• “Understanding and learning BIS Standards for our own necessity”, is it a rocket science or something beyond human capability?
• Do we not learn new things continuously, every day?
• Why are we reluctant to learn about our own sector matters? When we are happy to learn about and buy products and services which we love and are happy to spend lakhs & crores to purchase and experience?
• If we suggest a grade ‘with every inferiority’ as is being suggested by many, are we not digging our own grave further, by helping importers (and exporters to Bharat) to continue dumping goods under the said ‘inferior’ grade?
• Such moves will definitely defeat the very purpose of having this QCO itself – which is to cut imports & boost domestic efficiency, volumes, and quality. This would in-turn create lakhs of jobs too.
• Why are we afraid to go ahead with the QCO implementation?
• Do we not have the capacity, technology, techniques, (over)smartness to enable our government implement this QCO & help ourselves?
• Are we not ready to help ourselves at all?
• Instead of wasting time crying, we may as well use this opportunity and time to quickly implement quality & consistency.
• Is this a big unachievable task, or an immovable mountain? Why do we have to be like this?

Where do we need to change?

Finally, rest all parameters constant (including fali/short core veneers), there is only one thing on earth that is going to help factories maintain quality – RESIN & GLUE. Dot.

Inconsistency of resin & glue is death knell for plywood factories – whether we like it, accept it, or not.

Remember, there is ONLY ONE RESIN – that’s the standard resin, whichever resin it might be. Unless and until resin is not of a single, consistent standard, Bharat WILL NOT be able to produce standard plywood & panel products.

There may be thousands of resin experts all over Bharat. But still, there is ONLY ONE STANDARD RESIN & GLUE for each grade. That’s it.

Every factory’s basic job/work/activity should be to identify and FIX this one single resin & glue for themselves. Any tinkering, they are gone.

It is therefore hoped and wished that our plywood factories get into the habit of standardizing their resin & glue alone, and forget about quackery and tinkering. This remains the most critical factor in maintaining QCO standards.

‘The bitterness of low quality remains, long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.’ – Benjamin Franklin.