Industries

Rehabilitation >> Industries

Industries Units

The Industries Units supply various products and services to government departments and tax-supported organizations; and hence bring an incidental benefit of saving public money. In 2010, a daily average of about 5,203 prisoners were engaged at various types of productive work in over 140 workshops located at different correctional institutions.

Objectives

The Industries Units provide work opportunities and engages prisoners in meaningful work which reduces their idleness and tension; and therefore contributes to prison stability. Providing prisoners with basic trade skills and real world work environment also help them develop good work habit and healthy lifestyle, understand responsibilities and learn the spirit of teamwork which enhances their employability and facilitates their rehabilitation.

Trades

There are altogether 13 trades grouped and managed under 3 Industries Units.

Industries Unit 1 manages :		Contact No.
	Garment making	2582 5122
	Knitting	2582 4087
	Leather products	2582 4087

Industries Unit 2 manages :		Contact No.
	Sign making	2582 5127
	Metalwork
	Precast concrete products
	Fibreglass products	2582 5358
	Bookbinding
	Printing
	Envelope making
	Simple manual work

Industries Unit 3 manages :		Contact No.
	Carpentry	2582 5126
	Laundry services	2582 4060

(Office Hours: Monday to Friday 0800-1730 hours)

Challenge

Running industries in penal environment is particularly challenging. Prisoners need continuous motivation to work and extensive training to learn the skills. Security and operational constraints in the institutional setting also restrict our choice of industries and services.

Quality management

Notwithstanding all challenging factors, the management is committed to providing good quality products and services to customers. The following quality policy statement has been issued, which conveys our commitment to all staff and prisoners.

Quality Policy Statement

"We are dedicated to providing quality products & services so as to secure from customers more suitable work for inmates.

We will emphasize sincere customer relationship and fulfil customer needs in a responsive and professional manner.

We will emphasize the timely delivery of products and services.

We will improve continuously the quality practices among staff and to instill also the quality consciousness into inmates.

We will strive to achieve total quality management through team work and benchmarking international standards."

Customer Focus

We are conscious of the need to upkeep the confidence of our customer through quality assurance, effective communication and close working relationship. As a continuous effort to enhance customer satisfaction, we also collaborate with the end-users in looking for ways to improve the designs and features of our products. Comprehensive quality assurance systems are set up in all production centres to monitor the production processes so as to ensure that the required quality standards are achieved.

Continual Improvement

We always strive for continual improvement to enhance product quality, customer service and business operations in coping with the fast-moving market environment and increasing customers' demand. We also provide value added services and total solutions to our clients such as building up an emergent linen stock for Hospital Authority to combat the possible outbreak of community epidemic diseases. The continuous efforts in design, development and improvement of fiberglass litter containers for Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is another illustration.

To demonstrate our commitments to quality and meeting customers' demand, the 4 commercial laundries and the Sign-making Workshop have obtained certification to the internationally recognized Quality Management System - ISO 9001.

The leather product workshop at Stanley Prison has successfully developed waterproof and vapour permeable leather shoes with the technology from W.L. Gore & Associates (Far East) Ltd.

Application of Modern Technology

The enhancement programme of our core information system, the Manufacturing Management and Control System (MMCS), was completed in April 2010 with the e-ordering module launched in December 2010. The enhanced system not only streamlines the workflow but provides a convenient platform for government Bureaux and Departments to arrange on-line procurement of our products which shortens order lead times, and hence improves customer service.

We also keep on applying new technologies to our workshops to improve work processes and product quality. Prisoners can keep pace with the rapidly changing world through daily work which facilitates their reintegration into the society. One of the examples is the use of advanced design software in the Graphic Media Workshops at Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution.

Staff Training and Development

We place significant emphasis on staff training and development. Staff are provided with opportunities to acquire up-to-date knowledge through attending different training courses, workshops, seminars and visits which equip them with necessary skills to face new challenges.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

The Department is committed to providing custodial and rehabilitative services in a decent, health, and safe manner. The Departmental OSH Steering Committee continues its leading role in the promotion of OSH and co-ordination of all related activities.

OSH committee meetings, risk assessments, safety reviews and seminars are conducted regularly throughout the year for continual improvement of work environment. The Policy Statement on OSH has also been reviewed to promulgate the steering actions and enhance staff awareness in this respect.

Green Initiatives

We are committed to care and protect our environment. We have formulated green policy and measures on the basis of 3R principle – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We emphasize on minimizing waste during work operations and reducing unnecessary materials such as packaging materials for finished products. We work together with our clients to collect carton boxes for reuse. The use of the environmental friendly and recycled raw materials, such as recycled paper and low volatile organic compound (VOC) printing inks in our printing business, are also green initiatives being adopted.

Achievement

In the year 2010, we have generated goods and services equivalent to $395 million in commercial value. Examples are government office furniture, staff uniforms and leather accoutrement, hospital linen items, filter masks, litter containers, traffic signs, paving blocks, slabs and kerbs for highways and infrastructure projects. We provide laundry services to hospitals of the Hospital Authority, Department of Health and other government departments. We also laminate books for public libraries, undertake printing work and make envelopes for government departments.

Overview

Last revision date: 05 September 2011