Q) Please talk about your complete biography, and the Kasra Tile plant's background.
My name is Mohammad Roshanfekr Fallah, and I was born in 1953. I have got my BS and MS degree in Chemistry from Britain. In 1980, I got my M.Phil degree from Bradford University. In 1983, I started my job in Pars Tile Co. as quality control and production manager. Later on, I become the director of Nos. 1&4 of Qazvin Glass Plants. At the same time I was the deputy of production manager, and I continued my job there for five years. From 1989 to 1992, I was working in Hiss China Plants as the manager. Afterwards, I founded the Kasra Tile Co. and since then I've been working there as the managing director.
Q) What's the role of research and development in reaching the world's production and consumption standards, and is there any special department for this purpose in your company?
In today's industrial world, the research and development issues has been accepted as an undeniable principle, which has an important and active role in the industrial units of developed countries. On the other hand, all human being's industrial gains are due to research and development centers. Any country that can sufficiently invest in this field would actually enforce its basis in the world's scientific and industrial arenas. Research and development is a fully accepted phenomenon in the world, and as the time passes, it becomes more important and gains new targets. In the past, research and development were limited to groups of people who studied books in rooms. Nowadays, the most genius educated people without any financial limitation use experience and necessary equipment to research in different fields. The result of their activities is the development in different scientific and industrial fields. About research and development in Kasra Tile Co., I should say that we have planned a vast program in this field. We are going to establish an expanded and close cooperation with Iran Standard Organization in near future. It means that the company would act as the organization's accredited lab in the province. The company would start its research activities in different fields, and I would present its report in proper time.
Q) What is the role of customers, respecting the customers, and supporting the sale in production development, and what are you going to do about these issues?
Our policy in Kasra Tile Co. may be different from those of others. Our viewpoint towards customers is far beyond this popular policy, which says: "Always the customer is right". We are very satisfied that for the company it doesn't make any difference if the customer is living in a small town with limited demands, or if he or she is working in a large city like Tehran with huge activities. If we learn how to respect our customers in all situations - when the market is hit by recession or when it is flourished - we are actually investing for the time of crisis.
Q) During the international exhibitions, in addition to production, the producers were very active in teaching special terms related to their field of activities. What has Kasra Tile Co. has done in this regard?
In international exhibitions, experts and managers were trying to pave the way for more proper and expanded use of tile and ceramics in different places. It is clear that such measures could lead to new cases of tiles and ceramic consumption. This would be a great help to per capita consumption of tile in Iran. Presently, the per capita consumption of tile in Iran is 0.8 cubic meters, which in comparison to international ones, it is far behind. The Kasra Tile Co. by printing special catalogs and giving proper information has taken effective steps in this regard, and this trend will continue intensively.
Q) Despite the fact that it is newly established, the Kasra Tile Co. has achieved proper popularity in tile and ceramic markets. What are the reasons behind that, and what are your future programs for making it much better?
Personally, I do not fully agree with the term "popularity". However, I believe that Kasra Tile has found its place in the market, and I'm proud of that. The reason for my claim is the good orders we receive. Without any exaggeration, I should say that twice our production capacity, we receive orders, and we are not able to supply all of our customers. This shortage will be removed by launching the Development Project. To mention the reasons behind our success, I should say that in addition to the way we deal with the customers, the good quality of the company's produced ceramics has created necessary attraction for our customer. For supplying the market, our future plan includes increasing the variety of productions, searching for different tastes, and so on.
Q) Please talk more about Kasra Tile Co.'s development programs and its panorama.
Presently, we have launched our Development Project, and some parts of its construction have ended. We have discussed with a foreign company to purchasing the equipment, and we hope after overcoming some problems, we could import the necessary machines in the second half of the current Iranian year. After the installation of these new machines, the Kasra Tile Co.'s capacity will reach 2.5 Million square meters per year.
Q) Having proper consumption pattern will increase per capita tile consumption in our country; however, no effective measures have been taken for that so far. How can we deal with this problem?
We, as the producer, cannot - without the help of others - offer a proper pattern in order to boost per capita tile consumption and having a role in it. With cooperation with other organizations and foundations such as Housing Ministry, Iran Engineering Organization, and even Tile & Ceramic Sellers' Union this can be done. Along with that, vast advertising for making building constructors and ordinary people familiar with tile and ceramic consumption can increase tile and ceramic consumption in Iran. I believe this issue is very important, and necessary investment should be done on it.
Q) You have won a landslide victory in Tile and Ceramic Producers Association elections, and you have been chosen as a member of its Managing Board. What should be done to make the association more flourished and making its activities more up to date (according to what is done in Assopiostrelle and ASCER) ? Will it be possible to establish active international associations in Iran?
First of all, I should thank those tile and ceramic industry managers who trusted me and voted in favor of me. I think it's the secretary of the association who should explain about this. However, I'm sure the association will become more active, and especially more executive in all of fields in the future.
Q) Using proper raw material, new technology and experienced experts will lead to production of good productions. What are your problems in this field and what are your suggestions for overcoming the problem?
Fortunately, we enjoy using specialists and experienced people in Kasra Tile Company. One of the reasons behind our success is having such hardworking staff in the company. In other hands, we have tried to use the best raw materials for our products in all cases. The advantage of doing that is facing fewer problems when processing that production of tile, and finally reaching proper quality.
Q) What is the role of tile and ceramic publications in improving the industry and what are your suggestions in this regard?
Fortunately, the number and quality of these publications had increased during the recent years. I believe such a move is good sign; however, we have a long way to international standards. I think that for improving and making them more complete, these publications should be protected.
Thank you for taking part in the interview.
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