Tata Steel's West Bokaro Collieries was awarded the QIMPRO Benchmark Award - 2003 in the National Category. AM Mishra, general manager, West Bokaro Collieries, received the award on behalf of the company at a ceremony held at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai, on November 26, 2003.

This award, instituted by QIMPRO Foundation, is given annually to an organisation, which demonstrates benchmark quality in management performance. The assessment is based on the International Quality Maturity Model. The evaluation includes a rigorous site visit by a panel of accredited quality auditors and is structured around 15 business elements. The West Bokaro Collieries obtained a score of 6,125 out of a possible 10,000 and is the country's only coal mine to receive this honour.

Past winners of the QIMPRO benchmark include:

• Grasim Industries Vikram Cement
• ITC Packing and Printing Division
• Thai Carbon Black
• Thai Acrylic Fibre

During the review period, Tata Steel has posted emphatic results and has bettered its performance in all areas.