Management System Certification Research Articles

The Role of Quality Improvement in the Innovation practices in SMEs in Latvia

The hasty pace of globalization depicted by fundamental changes in the production technologies is utterly altering international trade. Furthermore, the rapid technological transformation requires organizations to refer to quality improvement while introducing innovative services and products. The following study scrutinizes the role of quality improvement in the innovation within the SMEs operating throughout Latvia. The nature of the study is quantitative and the views of SMEs representatives were captured via an online survey. SMEs operating in the field of manufacturing and retail in Latvia were selected for the participation in the study. As the research results reveal, quality improvement is considered as an important factor upon which innovative activities are implemented. Besides, in the rapidly changing consumer needs, product quality improvement is seen as a process of modifying and redesigning the products and services to satisfy well swiftly fluctuating demands for SMEs. In addition, our research discloses that the major sectors in Latvia within which quality management systems certification was requested were: construction, transportation, communication, wholesale and retail trade. Furthermore, research findings show that financing of productive capacity is central to any development strategy, but access to finances still remains a major obstacle for SMEs.

Management System Certification Challenges after Transition

Purpose – the article provides part of the broader research in the area of management systems standards and management systems certification. In the paper we analyse the evolution of management system standards after implementation of High-Level Structure (Annex SL) on the example of the most popular management standard ISO 9001: 2015 with the comparison to ISO 14001:2015. To understand the evolution and predict the future of certification we examine more deeply the behaviour of individual standard worldwide and on the particular markets. Research methodology – this study presents a quantitative overview of the quality management system standard certification during and after the last revision transition period. It presents analyses based on ISO survey data, data of the certification structure in Slovakia and particular data of broader research on adoption of an environmental management system in Slovak companies. The data were presented in graphs and tables to outline the change of dynamics of standards usage. We compare certification markets and analyse the observable impact by the type of standard, sectors penetration and possible certification impacts. Findings – the evolution charts of the volume of certificates over time express a saturation effect and stable reduction in the dynamics of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. The analysis of certificates numbers by industrial sectors highlights a decrease in the majority of sectors, only a few of them show up a positive trend in the last two years. Practical implications − the results of this study should be considered indicative rather than definitive. Taking into account the assembled data, multiple questions appear about the future. The future studies could proceed in qualitative research on causes of certification reduction and the possible incentives for management system standards application in organizations to sustain a system of credibility in international trade. Originality/Value – the paper analyses the evolution of management system standards ISO 9001 with a focus on “Big Revision” impact.

중국의 사이버보안 정책 연구 (A Study on China’s Cybersecurity Policy)

중국의 사이버보안 정책 연구 (A Study on China’s Cybersecurity Policy)

Calibration and Certification of Industrial Sensors – a Global Review

The main objective of this paper is to describe the state of the art of the calibration and certification of industrial sensors, giving an approach on how companies can manage the sensors’ calibration, namely the ones that are incorporated in the equipment. For any industry it is essential to make products that satisfy the customers in terms of quality and, simultaneously, to be competitive in the market. The data obtained from the sensors placed in the equipment is one of the sources that helps to increase the performance, adding value for the competitiveness of the company in the market. Sensors are responsible, in many sectors, to guarantee equipment availability and product quality. In this way, the certification of the company and of the equipment, not only guarantee quality and prevent unwanted and unforeseen costs, but also gives company credibility, namely from the customer's point of view. This paper focus on the state of art of industrial metrology, namely sensors, standards and measuring tools, calibrations and the certification of calibration. It also includes a theoretical section about sensors, types of sensors, their operation and characteristics. Next, it is presented the theme of metrology and the measurement science, responsible for ensuring the quality and veracity of the data sent by the reading equipment. It also addresses the importance of metrological traceability and certified management systems, which are required to certify the sensors calibration, in order to guarantee the effectiveness of the measurements and, consequently, the rigor of operation of the associated quality system.

Certification as support for resilience? Behind the curtains of a certification body \u2014 a qualitative study

BackgroundCertification in healthcare often involves independent private sector bodies performing legally required or voluntary external assurance activities. These certification practices are embedded in international standards founded in traditional beliefs about rational and predictable processes for quality and safety improvement. Certification can affect organizational and cultural changes, support collaboration and encourage improvement that may be conducive to resilient performance. This study explores whether ISO 9001 quality management system certification can support resilience in healthcare, by looking at characteristics in the objectives, methods, and practice of certification from a certification body’s perspective.MethodsOne of Norway’s four certification bodies in healthcare was studied, using an explorative embedded single-case design. The study relies on document analysis of the international standards and associated guidances for the performance of certification bodies and thematic analyses of data from 60 h of observations of auditors in three certification processes and nine qualitative interviews with managers and personnel from the certification body. Results from the analyses were compared to identify discrepancies between the written and perceived certification approach and practice.ResultsStandards and guidances for certification embed an elasticity between formal and consistent assessments of nonconformities in organizations and emphasize holistic approaches that brings added value. Auditors were then left with the latitude to navigate their auditing strategy during interaction with the auditees. Members of the certification body perceived and practiced a holistic and flexible auditing approach using opportunities to share knowledge, empower and make guidance for improvement.ConclusionsISO certification expects structures and systems to ensure consistent and objective certification processes. At the same time, it embodies a latitude to adopt flexible and context-specific certification approaches, as demonstrated by a certification body in this study, to give added value to the certified organizations. Such an ISO 9001 certification approach may support resilient performance in healthcare by nurturing the potential to respond and learn. These results are important for further development of methods that certification bodies use in the auditing encounter.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management Linkage: An Empirical Analysis of the Slovak Republic

Sustainability describes a means to satisfy the needs of today’s generation without causing suffering to the needs and standards of living of future generations. The concept of sustainability consists of three pillars: economic, environmental, and social. The purpose of this study is to find a link between Corporate Social Responsibility and the Environmental Management System and its impact on the economic results of the researched companies. Many companies expect to increase their profits through Corporate Social Responsibility behavior and Environmental Management System certification. Based on an analysis of data collected from 200 of the largest firms operating in various industries in the Slovak Republic, we observed the implications of these two management tools and their impacts on the economic results of these companies. To verify individual hypotheses, we use well-established methods, specifically the Pearson Chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, along with the Statistica software. The results suggest a relationship between the incorporation of these two management tools and that incorporation of the Corporate Social Responsibility has an impact on company profit. This work contributes to the literature on sustainability, corporate social behavior, and environmental certification in firms operating in various sectors of the national economy.

Ensuring the impartiality of the body conducting the audit and certification of management systems

The possibility of ensuring the impartial fulfillment of the established requirements at certification of management systems and audit is being considered. Keywords certification, audit, management system, impartiality, requirements. rvsuprun@vertest.ru

Moderating Effect of Quality Management System and Quality Standard Certification on Green SCM Practice and Performance in Chinese Industries

Moderating Effect of Quality Management System and Quality Standard Certification on Green SCM Practice and Performance in Chinese Industries

Future of quality management system (ISO 9001) certification: novel grey forecasting approach

Regarded as one of the most effective tools to guide quality systems management, ISO 9001 is a valuable certification. Yet, the growth observed throughout the world by this standard provides a strong polarisation of interest in this practice by the companies. Our research goals are to analyze and forecast trends involving ISO 9001 certification of six countries, China, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and India. We gathered ISO 9001 countrywide certification data over nine years from 2018 to 2026. The methods used in this study include Even GM (1, 1), Discrete GM (1, 1) and Non-homogeneous discrete grey model (NDGM) with an accompanying synthetic growth rate and synthetic doubling time grey models to investigate the comparison among these countries. The result reveals that Germany will likely continue to lead ISO 9001 certifications at a country level through 2026. We also find that Japan and UK required more time for ISO 9001 certification to double than other countries. Our forecasting of the uptake of the ISO 9001 standard is significant for the certification bodies to understand market diffusion and trends. Implications include this study providing valuable policy guidelines for decision-makers, and new opportunities for further research for scholars.

The Diagnostic-Therapeutic Care Pathway in Psoriasis: Towards ISO 9001:2015 Certification.

Background and objectives: Psoriasis (Pso) is a common skin condition characterized by a strong psychosocial impact, and is nowadays accepted as a systemic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Diagnostic–Therapeutic Care Pathways (DTCPs) represent a predefined sequence of diagnostic, therapeutic, and assistance activities that integrate the participation of several specialists to obtain, for each patient, the correct diagnosis and thus the most appropriate therapy. A DTCP was validated in our dermatology clinic (AOU Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy). The validation process included the detailed elaboration of a protocol of diagnosis, staging of care, therapies, and follow-up of the patient with Pso. The formalization and adaptation of our DTCP resulted in ISO 9001: 2015 certification in May 2019. Materials and methods: This process involved several stages, including analysis of context and the identification of (i) targets, (ii) indicators, and (iii) service providers. The evaluation was based on a cohort of over 200 patients affected by moderate to severe Pso, who were treated and followed-up at our institution from September 2017 to April 2019. Results: The ISO 9001:2015 quality certification process allowed us to identify our weaknesses, i.e., the long waiting times for the first visit and the reduced physician–patient ratio, but also our strengths, such as the commitment to clinical research, effective collaboration with other specialists, the efficient use of technological and human resources, and attention to ensuring patient follow-up. Conclusions: In qualifying for and achieving the ISO Quality Management System (QMS) certification we were heartened to realize that our basic methodology and approach were fit for purpose. The implementation of the ISO QMS helped us to reorganize our priorities by placing the patient at the center of the process and raising awareness that Pso is not just a skin disease.

Characteristics of global port phytoplankton and implications for current ballast water regulations

The International Maritime Organization and U.S. Coast Guard have implemented regulations to reduce introductions of non-indigenous species via ballast water (BW). For phytoplankton, regulations limit discharges to <10 live/viable cells mL−1 (size: 10–50 μm), ignoring other size fractions. Additionally, challenge conditions of 100 (shipboard) and 1000 (land-based) cells mL−1 are required in BW management system certification testing. How these requirements correspond to natural phytoplankton populations is poorly resolved. We analyzed phytoplankton samples from 31 major ports to evaluate: a) how natural communities compare to challenge requirements and b) abundances of unregulated size fractions (i.e., <10 and ≥50 μm). None of the ports met land-based challenge conditions, and only 32% met requirements for shipboard testing. Approximately 71% of organisms ≥50 μm were centric diatoms, also unregulated by current protocols. This study demonstrates that current regulations do not consider natural phytoplankton populations, limiting control efforts for potentially harmful non-indigenous species.

Meningkatkan Kinerja Pemasaran Hotel dengan Memanfaatkan Nilai Pelayanan Ergo-ikonik

The present study aims to support the hypotheses proposed in the research model to prove the fact that the suggested variables can contribute towards performance improvement. The study offers a novel variable namely ergo-iconic service value. The object of this study includes 118 three-star hotels located in the business districts of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta and West Java. The study used questionnaires that were distributed to hotel managers to acquire research data. The ergo-iconic service value as a mediating variable is proven to improve the marketing performance of the hotels. Other variables, namely, the ability to implement management system certification and the ability to adapt to technology also increase the mediating role of ergo-iconic service value. The hypotheses are empirically proven as all three variables successfully improved the hotels' marketing performance. The current research also shows that the role of humans is still significant, and human presence is required to improve performance despite the fact that we are currently at the Industry 4.0 era; in this case, not all activities should be taken over by robots.

중소기업의 안전보건경영시스템 인증 취득시 문제점과 개선방안

중소기업의 안전보건경영시스템 인증 취득시 문제점과 개선방안

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

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.

Актуальные вопросы формирования области сертификации интегрированных систем менеджмента для нефтегазовых компаний холдингового типа

Актуальные вопросы формирования области сертификации интегрированных систем менеджмента для нефтегазовых компаний холдингового типа

Pains and gains of environmental management system certification for the sustainable development of manufacturing companies: Heterogeneous effects of industry peer learning

AbstractEnvironmental sustainability is a growing global concern. Environmental management systems (EMS) could be an effective strategic tool to help firms deal with their sustainable development. However, whether EMS certification pays off financially and how it takes effect can be debated. Thus far, these questions remain largely under‐researched. In particular, the effects of EMS certification on financial performance are inconclusive, and the reasons explaining the effects are underdeveloped. This study aims to enrich the current research by exploring the mediating and moderating roles from the perspective of cost‐efficiency trade‐offs to reveal how EMS certification affects financial performance. Applying a PROCESS procedure analysis and causal mediation analysis to a sample of 1,751 Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2008 to 2016, this study shows that the effect of EMS certification on firms' financial performance is insignificant because their operating costs burden increases while their marketing efficiency and managerial efficiency improve. For the first time, this study demonstrates the moderating role of industry peer learning, as the mediating effects decrease with the growth of industry peer learning.

The Romanian Consumer Among Education, Information, Health Risk, Food Quality and Ethics

The food quality and the safety must be a constant concern both for consumers and for authorities. The education for quality and the active involvement, coherent and sustained by the state, through the implementation of a quality strategy at national level should be the main `forces` that can contribute to the implementation and certification of quality management systems in the agri-food sector. The meat and milk products are important components in the human diet; therefore, their contamination with heavy metals plays a significant role in the public health. The concentrations of several human essential trace elements (Mn, Cu, Zn and Ba) and toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb) were analysed in 95 animal-based foods, including meat, milk products and honey, collected from Romanian market. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique (ICP-MS) was used for the determinations. In order to evaluate the potential health risk of the consumers due to metals intake via food ingestion, three indices were calculated, namely: the potential average daily dose (ADDpot, mg/kg/day), the hazard quotient (HQ) and the hazard index (HI). In terms of food safety, the toxic element concentrations in the majority of the investigated samples were below the maximum permitted levels set by Romanian and European legislation.

The Use of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems in the Process of Preparation and Provision of Environmental Insurance

The purpose of the research is to assess usefulness of the implemented and certified management systems for preparation and provision of insurance. Data was collected by means of non‑real‑time, time‑extended, text‑based online focus groups, obtained via Bulletin Board platform. Respondents were selected according to judgmental sampling, and were insurance sector experts. The template analyses of the interview transcript supported by a narrative approach were conducted. The research demonstrated that environmental insurance and ISO 14001 environmental management systems (EMSs) at present, remain in Poland almost entirely independent of each other. Representatives of insurance industry do not use the information about the system implementation while preparing and providing insurance cover. ISO 14001 EMSs present little credibility for insurance experts and according to the respondents, their implementation does not significantly and undoubtedly affect the level of the covered risk. Consequently, insurance buyers do not profit from insurance (lower premiums, improved insurance scope) resulting from the implementation of ISO 14001 systems. Industry representatives, however, use – albeit unconsciously – systemic documentation in the process of preparation and provision of insurance cover. They also examine systemic processes performed in the organisation at the stage of risk assessment. Improvement of credibility of certification process, based on profound cooperation between certification institutions and insurance industry may increase the importance of ISO 14001 EMSs for the process of preparation and provision of insurance cover.

Voluntary behaviour, knowledge sharing and quality management system implementation in pharmaceutical industry: a preliminary study

The implementation of quality management system requires voluntary motivation from each organisation's member to achieve organisational perfection. In practice, quality management system implementations are often based on customer demands as a business to business requirement. Certified companies are often no better than firms that do not yet have quality management system certifications. This study aims to develop and to confirm a model of effective quality management system implementation by using internal motive factors, such as voluntary behaviour, prosocial behaviour, perceived employability, and trust. By conducting a survey to a leading Indonesian pharmaceutical firm as a preliminary study, 49 responds revealed that perceived employability and trust had significant effect to form voluntary behaviour amongst employees. Voluntary behaviour has shown the ability to foster effective quality management system implementation, and the effect could be more promising through the existence of knowledge sharing practice.

Роль сертификации систем менеджмента качества в управлении

Роль сертификации систем менеджмента качества в управлении