Quality management benefits through the “soft” and “hard” aspect of TQM in food companies

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 431-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Psomas ◽  
Fotis Vouzas ◽  
Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Employee Benefits ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Binary Character ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine the binary character of total quality management (TQM) in food companies and to determine the impact of the two aspects of TQM – the “soft” and “hard” – on the quality management benefits. Design/methodology/approach – A research project was carried out in 90 Greek food companies, using the questionnaire method. Two measurement models have been formulated. The first model includes the TQM philosophical elements and quality tools/techniques, while the second model includes the quality management benefits. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to extract the latent factors. The factors that significantly influence the quality management benefits are determined through multiple linear regression analyses. Findings – The analysis of the models confirms the binary character of TQM (the “soft” and “hard” TQM elements) in food companies and the existence of internal and external quality management benefits. The “soft” TQM elements have a significant direct impact on quality improvement, employee benefits and customer satisfaction. However, the impact of the “hard” TQM elements on the above quality management benefits is not direct but indirect, through their significant correlation with the “soft” TQM elements. Finally, quality improvement is also a significant factor that directly influences employee benefits, customer satisfaction and business performance. Research limitations/implications – The small size of the sample of the responding food companies, the diversity of these companies and the subjective character of the data collected are limitations that suggest future research recommendations. Practical implications – Food companies should realize the leading role of the “soft” aspect of TQM and the supporting role of the “hard” aspect in maximizing the quality management benefits and as a consequence in withstanding the current economic downturn. Originality/value – Focusing on “quality-oriented” food companies that have ample experience in quality and food safety management systems, the present study reveals a significant direct impact of the “soft” TQM elements and an indirect impact of the “hard” TQM elements on the quality management benefits.

Research framework for the impact of total quality management on competitive advantage

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Cang Nguyen ◽  
Ngoc Tuan Chau
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply a more accurate competitive advantage construct to study the impact of total quality management on firms’ competitive advantage in the context of the weakening of the competitive advantage of firms that are renowned for the excellent quality management. It also aims to find a better explanation for the source of competitive advantage through mediating constructs. Design/methodology/approach The authors use iterative methodology by reviewing, analyzing, synthesizing and refining the current state of the literature and propose a research framework which allows for overcoming the limitation encountered in previous empirical research. Findings The use of two second-order constructs including the incremental innovation performance and radical innovation performance which enable the researchers to have a better explanation about the mediating role of innovation performance. Practical implications This study is seeking to contribute to the practice of total quality management area of research. Specifically, this study applies two second-order measurement scales of innovation in use, actualize the use of the new measurement scale of competitive advantage and explain clearly the role of total quality management on competitive advantage in the current context. Originality/value This is one of the few papers investigating the impact of total quality management on competitive advantage, developing the conceptual model that examines the mediating role of innovation performance.

The impact of the implementation of management system on the perception of role and tasks of maintenance services and effectiveness of their functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Przemysław Drożyner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Repair Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe first goal of the article was to examine how the perception of the role and scope of operation of maintenance services in the enterprise changes, depending on whether the company has an integrated management system (IMS), only a quality management system implemented in accordance with ISO 9001 and in the absence of a formal, certified management system. The second goal was to propose a model for assessing the quality of maintenance service functioning in enterprise with IMS implemented.Design/methodology/approachThe author's experience of over 1,000 audits in enterprises in various industries: food, automotive, construction, petrochemical, electronic and so on was used in the work. The audits were carried out in three types of companies: which had IMSs (800 audits), which only had a system implementation certificate ISO 9001 (140 audits) and without any standardized management system implemented (so-called second-party audits, commissioned by the client of the audited company.FindingsThe most important conclusion is – the role of UR services in enterprises with the implemented IMS is much broader and goes beyond the classic framework for planning, implementation and settlement of maintenance and repair work. Maintenance is understood more broadly and includes in its scope also the safety of people and the environment, the efficiency of production and consumption of utilities as well as the quality of products and services. Maintenance issues include not only strictly technical aspects but also economic, logistic, legal and organizational and management aspects.Practical implicationsResearch shows that enterprises, especially those with high technical and organizational culture, should not treat management systems as costs, but as a driving force for the implementation of new technologies, new organizational solutions and the development of employees' competences.Social implicationsBroad views on stakeholders of maintenance services (including employees, their families, control institutions) and their requirements make enterprises begin to see the need to maintain the so-called lifetime balance, as well as the safety and comfort of work of employees of these services.Originality/valueThe author did not find in literature any reports on studies of the impact of formal, certified management systems on the quality of maintenance services; this article shows that this impact is large and, above all, positive; with such a broad understanding of the role of maintenance, there is a need to develop a common platform for such seemingly distant concepts as machine technical condition or fatigue life versus cost accounting and quality management.

Comprehensive insight into supplier quality and the impact of quality strategies of suppliers on outsourcing decisions

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meryem Uluskan ◽  
Jeffrey A. Joines ◽  
A. Blanton Godfrey
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Essential Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – This study aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the role of the quality management (QM) systems in international suppliers (e.g. ISO, Total Quality Management, Lean and Six Sigma) on outsourcing decisions of buyer companies with regard to reshoring activities. Design/methodology/approach – By the means of a comprehensive survey data collected within USA textile and apparel industry, the authors identify four quality factors and compare these factors for international and domestic suppliers by the means of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and consequently define a reshore vector. Next, the most-effective QM system within international suppliers is analyzed by the means of a new application based on LDA. Findings – The results reveal that international suppliers perform worse for all quality factors compared to domestic USA suppliers, which may leave the door open for reshoring activities. Furthermore, it is shown that Lean and Six Sigma within international suppliers lead to superior levels of quality because they are aligned along the most opposite directions against reshore vector. Therefore, it is claimed that Lean and Six Sigma within the international suppliers can inhibit reshoring activities of US companies. Practical implications – The willingness of US textile companies to assist their international suppliers and the challenges on this subject are discussed on the basis that supplier development (or quality management) programs can be strong alternatives to reshoring activities. Originality/value – QM systems in suppliers are analyzed with a new method within a new context based on reshore phenomenon, which provides an essential point of view for academic and industrial environments.

Impact of quality management systems on firm performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1034-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
J. Maiti ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Within the operations management literature, quality management (QM) has been one of the most popular research areas over the last few decades. The impact of QM systems on firm performance has been the subject of constant interest and challenge among researchers. Last such review was done in 2002 based on QM-related articles published between 1994 and 1999 and these were primarily on Total Quality Management (TQM). In the last 18 years, a large number of empirical studies have been attempted to investigate QM system-performance relationships in different contexts, covering not only TQM but also other QM systems such as ISO 9001, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints (TOC), and Six Sigma Continuous Improvement projects. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Based on an extensive review of 263 papers published in 17 reputed journals during the period 2000 to 2017, this paper shows the reflections of QM systems with respect to study of different QM systems, type of research designs being used, performance categories and metrics being used, and application of tools/techniques. Findings The literature review has revealed several gaps in research in the area of QM and calls for research on: empirical longitudinal case studies; implementation of multiple QM systems; identification of leading indicators of firm’s performance; standardization of performance measures; safety, environment and health-related performance measures; the differences in the QM systems on firm’s performance for manufacturing vs service organizations; application of QM systems in developing countries including Asian countries; and impact of ISO 9001 QM system on firm’s performance. Originality/value The literature reviews in the past had considered only the TQM-related articles published in reputed journals and did not cover other QM systems such as TPM, TOC, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, ISO 9001 QMS, etc., which have also been widely used in many organizations, more so in the last 15 years.

Business process innovation on quality and supply chains

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 635-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara G. Schniederjans
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of business process innovation on the relationship between social quality management (SQM) and supply chain performance. To address this issue, this paper distinguishes SQM from soft quality management. This paper further refines the impact of two levels of business process innovation (radical vs incremental) on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a survey of manufacturing firms throughout the USA. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were performed in order to examine the hypotheses. Findings This study confirmed the positive association between SQM and supply chain performance. While the results confirm a positive moderating relationship with incremental business process innovation between SQM and supply chain performance, radical process innovation was found to have a negative moderating role on this relationship. Originality/value This paper distinguishes SQM from soft quality management thus making it easier to determine which aspects of soft quality management enhance supply chain performance. This study also provides evidence of the differing ways in which business process innovation moderates the relationship between SQM and supply chain performance specifically identifying the positive and negative moderating role of incremental and radical business process innovations.

The impact of customer’s perceived service innovativeness on image congruence, satisfaction and behavioral outcomes

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreejesh S ◽  
Amarnath Mitra ◽  
Debjani Sahoo
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Firm ◽  
Image Congruence ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to provide empirical evidence of relationship between perceived service innovativeness, image-congruence, satisfaction and behavioral outcomes at the customer level. It hypothesizes a moderated mediation model, denoting that perceived service innovativeness relates to image-congruity dimensions, which, in turn, will promote satisfaction at cognitive and affective level, thereby creating strong behavioral outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through online surveys. The survey aimed at measuring the hypothesized constructs and other study-relevant information. Hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modeling technique. Findings – This paper validates the role of perceived service innovativeness as a mechanism facilitating development and transfer of customer’s image-congruence toward a service firm. It also finds that the image-congruity dimensions fully mediate the relationship between perceived innovativeness and satisfaction. The resultant customer satisfaction leads to the development of behavioral outcomes. Further, the study finds that perceived innovativeness have varying effects on image-congruence dimensions depending upon customer’s prior experience. Practical implications – The study provides evidence to managers that the customer-centric value creation through image-congruence requires development of positive perceived service innovativeness, which will result in customer satisfaction and their behavioral outcomes. Originality/value – The study is the first attempt to find empirical support for the role of perceived service innovativeness to create customer’s image congruity with a service firm. Further, analyzing how perceived service innovativeness, image-congruence, customer satisfaction and behavioral outcomes are related to each other is also an important contribution.

scholarly journals ROLE OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PERFORMANCE OF FAIRTRADE PREMIUM PROJECTS IN KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ruth Muthoni Njung’e ◽  
A. Kagiri
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Fair Trade ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Quality Management Practices

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the role of total quality management on the performance of fair trade premium projects with particular reference to Flamingo Horticulture Limited (herein referred to as the company or organization). Methodology: The target population for this research comprised of the employees, the management and the fair trade premium committee of the Flamingo Horticulture Limited. The study employed descriptive research design.  A census sampling was carried out and the sample size was 46. Survey method was used to solicit the information. The researcher used a questionnaire to collect primary data which was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques then presented in tables. Data collected will be both quantitative and qualitative. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was enhanced by carrying out a pilot study prior to data collection. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics by aid of Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS).  The results were presented in form of Tables. Results: The studies found that quality management planning, customer focus and application of Quality Management planning approaches such as auditing, continuous improvement, monitoring & evaluation have positive effect on performance of fairtrade premium projects. Correlation analysis showed that there were positive and significant correlations between performance of Fairtrade premium projects in Kenya and all independent variables (quality management planning, r=0.537, p<0.05; customer focus, r=0.542, p<0.05; leadership qualities, r=0.476, p<0.05 and, QMS approaches, r=0.452, p<0.05). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that Fairtrade organizations should integrate quality management planning in their overall planning process to ensure identification of risks, to ensure that errors are eliminated throughout the operational process and products and services are produced at an optimal quality that can satisfy all stakeholders. Adoption of quality management will enable the leaders to use their personal values, ethics, and commitment to the organization’s vision and mission,  passionate to energize and create a  synergy in teams;  heading towards  accomplishment of organizational goals.   With high level of quality improvement quality management practices and leadership will be higher since leadership qualities are associated with successful quality improvement.

scholarly journals Locally focused and digitally oriented: examining eco-museums' digitization in a service quality management perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocco Palumbo ◽  
Maria Vincenza Ciasullo ◽  
Massimiliano Matteo Pellegrini ◽  
Andrea Caputo ◽  
Mario Turco
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Service Quality Management

PurposeEco-museums safeguard the cultural authenticity and the historical identity of the place in which they operate. Conventional organizational models and management practices are generally employed to achieve this institutional aim. Conversely, innovative solutions – such as digitization – are overlooked. Adopting a service quality management perspective, the article intends to examine the role of managerialization and professionalization in triggering eco-museums' digitization.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical analysis involving 126 eco-museums operating in Italy as of 2018 was designed to investigate the implications of managerialization and professionalization on the eco-museums' propensity to embark on a digitization process. Two different forms of digitization were examined: (1) the presence of eco-museums in the digital environment; and (2) the exploitation of digital tools for service delivery. The mediating role of two “soft” total quality management (TQM) practices, i.e. people centredness and strategic focus on visitors' experience, was contemplated in the empirical analysis.FindingsThe research findings suggest that managerialization and professionalization have ambiguous effects on eco-museums' digitization. Nevertheless, they indirectly contribute to a greater digital presence of eco-museums and to a larger use of digital tools for service delivery through an increased use of soft TQM practices.Research limitations/implicationsManagerialization and professionalization are likely to foster the digital transition of eco-museums, which advances their ability to protect and promote the local cultural heritage. Soft TQM practices intended to achieve people-centredness and to enhance the visitors' experience should be exploited to stimulate the eco-museums' digitization.Originality/valueThe article examines the triggers of eco-museums' digitization, providing some food for thought to scholars and practitioners.

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