The Nigerian Institute of Production Management-NIPM has attributed most of the problems facing Nigerian manufacturers to professional incompetence and mediocrity on the part of those who are saddled with the responsibility of managing production and operations as well as their Chief Executive Officers who approve the appointment of persons to manage production and operations functions without professional qualifications.

This remark was made by the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Production Management-NIPM, Dr Olaniyi Opanuga in Lagos.

“Most Nigerian manufacturers cannot compete favourably in both local and international markets because their managers lack professional production and operations management competencies”, he said.

“There are world class manufacturers in this country whose products are great brands even beyond our shores and we can do better in export markets and earn more foreign exchange but we still have bad eggs who are giving production a bad name by manufacturing fake, adulterated, unwholesome and substandard products”

“When you see Managing Director or Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of a manufacturing organization who does not care about professional education, training, development and membership qualifications of his or her production and operations managers, you have found someone who needs mediocres and quacks to carry out errands devoid of ethical values and run an organization of yesterday not that of today or tomorrow. The work of the present and the future requires professionalism”.

“You cannot deal with the myriad of challenges of the manufacturing environment or improve efficiency in production and operations without professional qualifications. Most Nigerian CEOs, Operations Directors, Plant/Factory Managers, Operations/Production Managers do not have requisite professional qualifications in Production and Operations Management”, Dr Opanuga asserted.

“The Nigerian Institute of Production Management (NIPM) is responsible for regulating the standards of professional practice of production and operations management in the country; we are concerned about Made-In-Nigeria. We are equally concerned about the quality and performance of those who manage production and operations in the country” he added.