Process Improvement & ZED Certification
Standardise the way you work, prove your process maturity, and unlock the recognition and incentives of the Government of India's Zero Defect Zero Effect programme.
- SOP set-up & process capability evaluation
- Efficiency & effectiveness testing
- ZED Bronze, Silver & Gold certification support
- ZED financial incentives & subsidy guidance
Strong processes are the heart of a prospering business
The way ingredients are cooked makes all the difference — and the same is true of your business processes. Their uniqueness and structure have a huge impact on both your costs and your customers' satisfaction. We help you reinforce better internal controls to improve efficiency and consistency across your organisation.
Our work spans three practical steps: documenting how you operate, understanding where your processes stand today, and testing whether they actually deliver.
Setting up SOPs
We help you establish Standard Operating Procedures so everyone knows what is expected of them and performs accordingly — reducing dependence on individuals and firefighting.
Evaluation of process capabilities
We assess how capable your current processes are of consistently meeting your organisational objectives, and where the gaps lie.
Testing efficiency & effectiveness
We test whether your processes are both efficient (doing things right) and effective (doing the right things), and recommend targeted improvements.
Zero Defect Zero Effect for a stronger MSME
The Government of India envisioned the Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) initiative to enhance MSME competitiveness, make businesses sustainable and transform them into national and international champions. We assist you in obtaining ZED Certification for your entity from the Ministry of MSME.
MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification is an extensive drive to build awareness of Zero Defect Zero Effect practices and to motivate and incentivise MSMEs — enhancing competitiveness through assessment, handholding, and managerial and technological intervention.
The intent of taking a ZED Pledge is to make a "pre-commitment" — a solemn promise by an MSME to uphold the values of Zero Defect Zero Effect in its practices, and to move forward on the journey of ZED.
Bronze, Silver & Gold
All MSMEs registered on the UDYAM portal can participate after registering as ZED and taking the Pledge. Certification is awarded in three levels, each assessed against a widening set of parameters.
Bronze
Level 1 · Parameters 1–5
The entry level, covering the foundations: leadership, a Swachh (clean) workplace, occupational safety, timely delivery and quality management.
Silver
Level 2 · Parameters 1–14
A broader commitment, adding people, maintenance, process control, product quality, and material, energy and environment management, among others.
Gold
Level 3 · All 20 parameters
The highest recognition, extending to supply chain, risk and waste management, technology upgradation, resource conservation and CSR.
The 20-parameter assessment
| Sl. No. | Parameter | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leadership | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2 | Swachh Workplace | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3 | Occupational (Workplace) Safety | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4 | Measurement of Timely Delivery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 5 | Quality Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6 | Human Resource Management | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 7 | Daily Works Management | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 8 | Planned Maintenance & Calibration | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 9 | Process Control | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 10 | Product Quality & Safety (Testing / Certification) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 11 | Material Management | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 12 | Energy Management | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 13 | Environment Management | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 14 | Measurement and Analysis | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 15 | Supply Chain Management | — | — | ✓ |
| 16 | Risk Management | — | — | ✓ |
| 17 | Waste Management (Muda, Mura, Muri) | — | — | ✓ |
| 18 | Technology Selection & Upgradation | — | — | ✓ |
| 19 | Natural Resource Conservation | — | — | ✓ |
| 20 | Corporate Social Responsibility | — | — | ✓ |
Your journey to ZED, step by step
Take the Pledge
Register as ZED and take the ZED Pledge — your pre-commitment to Zero Defect Zero Effect values.
Apply online
Apply online for your chosen certification level (Bronze, Silver or Gold) and submit the required undertaking.
Close non-conformities
If any non-conformity is found, close it within the defined time period to become eligible for the desired level.
Certificate issued
The final ZED Certificate is issued based on the findings and recommendation of the Accredited Assessment Agencies.
Surveillance
After 18 months, a surveillance assessment is conducted for MSMEs holding Silver and Gold certification.
Support that lowers the cost of getting there
ZED is designed to be affordable. Eligible MSMEs can access handholding, consultancy and technology-upgradation support, plus graded subsidies and a joining reward, as notified by the Ministry of MSME's ZED Certification Scheme.
Incentive figures current as of July 2026, per the Ministry of MSME's ZED scheme — figures are revised from time to time by the Ministry, so please confirm current amounts with us or at zed.msme.gov.in before applying.
A provision of up to ₹5 Lakh per MSME is available for handholding and consultancy support — of which up to ₹2 Lakh is for handholding support through consulting organisations and up to ₹3 Lakh may be used towards technology upgradation for zero-effect solutions, pollution-control measures or cleaner technology (subject to consultant recommendation, MSME-DI verification and PMAC approval).
An additional subsidy of 10% for MSMEs owned by Women, SC or ST entrepreneurs, or MSMEs located in NER, Himalayan, LWE, Island territories or aspirational districts.
An additional subsidy of 5% for MSMEs that are also part of the SFURTI scheme or the Micro & Small Enterprises — Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) of the Ministry.
A limited-purpose joining reward of ₹10,000 is offered to each MSME once they take the ZED Pledge — a head start on your ZED journey.
Why pursue ZED Certification?
Beyond the incentives, ZED builds a durable advantage — better quality, lower environmental impact, and a credential that opens doors in domestic and export markets alike.
- Manufacture quality products using the latest technology and tools
- Constantly upgrade processes for high quality and high productivity
- Achieve the least possible effect on the environment
- Build an ecosystem for ZED manufacturing that enables exports
- Gain recognition for adopting ZED practices
- Move up through graded incentives to higher certification levels
- Meet growing public demand for Zero Defect, Zero Effect products
Frequently asked questions
Ready to go Zero Defect, Zero Effect?
Let our consultants handhold you from the ZED Pledge to certification — and help you claim the incentives you are entitled to.