Supply Chain Quality Management Practices Research Articles

Blockchain-enabled traceability systems for supply chain quality management: empirical insights from pharmaceutical manufacturers

PurposeThe emergence of blockchain technology has the potential to bring about transformative changes in various industries, with supply chain management being a prominent domain of application. This study investigates the strategic performance benefits of using blockchain-enabled traceability systems for improving supply chain quality management.Design/methodology/approachThe present study employed structural equation modelling to analyse data obtained from 200 practitioners working in Indian pharmaceutical companies.FindingsThe results reflect that blockchain-enabled traceability systems have a positive impact on multi-tier quality governance (MQG); supply chain process alignment and coordination (SPAC) and quality centric collaboration (QCC); all of which are the facets of supply chain quality management. Furthermore, when examining the impact of blockchain-enabled traceability systems on firm quality performance and economic performance, the mediation role of SPAC and QCC was confirmed, whereas the mediation role of MQG could not be established.Practical implicationsThe study’s empirical insights offer practical guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulators and other industry participants seeking to harness the potential of blockchain technology for creating resilient and transparent supply chains that uphold product quality and safety standards.Originality/valueThese findings underscore the significance of blockchain-enabled traceability systems in revolutionizing supply chain quality management practices to achieve superior strategic performance in the pharmaceutical sector.

Digital Supply Chain: Is It Important For Enhancing Supply Chain Performance?

A supply chain based on technology is very important in Industry 4.0. Unfortunately, several manufacturing companies have not been using optimally this technology. However, big manufacturing companies are. This paper proposes a solution providing good insight based on the digital supply chain. The aim of this study is to provide acceptable digital supply chain implementation, especially for manufacturing companies which still not using the technology in their supply chain process. This research used RBV theory in order to compare the prior study with the current situation. In this research, all the variable studies are positively affecting the supply chain performance. In this study, the implementation of digital supply chain can improve supply chain performance by combining with supply chain quality management practices. Especially with Supply chain agility as a mediating process.

Challenges and hotspots in food supply chain quality management practices

Food supply chains face many challenges, including those associated with supply chain quality management practices. Supply chain quality management practices are activities and processes adopted to achieve quality goals. The practices can be quite challenging, especially for food supply chains that are sustainability-oriented, such as those found in alternative food networks. This paper introduces a notion of supply chain quality management practice hotspots to capture incidences of quality management practice challenges that manifest in food supply chains. An approach for identifying supply chain quality management practice hotspots is developed in the paper and illustrated with multiple case studies. Findings show that incidences of supply chain quality management practice hotspots exist in practice, and practitioners perceive the notion of supply chain quality management practice hotspots to be valuable, especially in providing insights into supply chain processes and use as a basis for performance improvement. The paper indicates that the severity of supply chain quality management practice hotspots is influenced by the importance placed on supply chain processes, supply chain practices, and the severity of the quality management practice challenges the supply chain faces. Implications of findings and recommended areas of future work are presented.

Assessing Supply Chain Quality Management Indicators: A Roadmap to Operational Excellence at Al-Zawraa General Company's Altahady Site

This research endeavors to assess and enhance supply chain quality management at the Al-Tahady Site of Al-Zawraa General Company. The primary objective is to evaluate a comprehensive set of supply chain quality management indicators and provide a strategic roadmap for achieving operational excellence. The research problem addressed in this study revolves around the need to improve supply chain quality management practices. Despite the inherent challenges in real-world supply chain research, particularly in data acquisition and information gathering, this study is resolute in its mission. Beyond analysis, the researcher seeks to propose practical application mechanisms to drive tangible benefits for the company in attaining its operational goals. The examination of key supply chain quality management indicators reveals significant insights. Notably, the compliance rate consistently falls within the range of (1.04%) to (1.24%), affirming unwavering commitment to meeting purchase orders and contract standards. Transmission accuracy exhibits a parallel consistency, ranging between (1.04%) and (1.24%), signifying a remarkable precision in deliveries. The punctuality commitment is evidenced by on-time delivery rates, fluctuating from (91%) to (93%). Additionally, this study unveils fluctuations in supplier lead times, varying from (0.16%) to (0.55%). These variations serve as valuable signals, highlighting areas ripe for supplier management improvement. Furthermore, the prudent cost management practices implemented by the company are substantiated by total procurement costs ranging from (239,400,000) to (277,200,000). this research constitutes a concerted effort to elevate supply chain quality management at Al-Zawraa General Company's Al-Tahady Site. Its findings provide actionable insights aimed at enhancing supply chain performance, boosting customer satisfaction, and fortifying competitiveness.

The mediating role of supply chain quality management for traceability and performance improvement: Evidence among Chinese food firms

With the frequent outbreak of food safety issues, supply chain traceability (SCT), using industry 4.0 technologies such as blockchain, Internet of Things, and cloud computing for end-to-end quality monitoring, has attracted increasing attention from academia and practitioners. However, whether and how supply chain focal firms can improve both quality and economic performance through SCT practices is still unclear and lacks studies. Built on the value of SCT and from the resource dependence theory (RDT) perspective, this study hypothesizes that supply chain quality management (SCQM) practices, including supply chain-based quality strategy and leadership (SCQSL), supply chain-based process integration and management (SCPIM), and quality-oriented supply chain relationship management (QSCRM), are necessary for focal firms to improve quality and gain economic benefit through SCT. Using survey data collected from 337 food firms in China, our structural equation modeling results reveal that SCT can bring quality performance while SCQSL and SCPIM are necessarily required. SCT can improve economic performance while SCPIM is essential and SCQSL is partially necessary. Moreover, SCRM is partially needed for firms to gain both types of performances. This study contributes new theoretical insights for food firms to highlight SCQM practices in support of their traceback investigation for associated performance gains.

Adapt or die: a competitive digital supply chain quality management strategy

PurposeThe evolution of modern digitalization technologies necessitates the development of a competitive digital supply chain quality management (SCQM) strategy by manufacturers. Using the new institutions and institutional theory (IIT), the study research first aims to identify the most important SCQM practices that can influence competitive performance (CP). Second, the authors intend to investigate the role of digital strategy alignment (DSA) in moderating the relationship between the multidimensionality of SCQM practices and CP among manufacturers.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to examine 225 valid samples from Malaysian manufacturers who use SCQM practices.FindingsThe study findings indicate that five of the twelve hypotheses developed were accepted. This suggests that supplier focus, strategic collaboration, information sharing and customer focus are positively and significantly correlated with CP. Unexpectedly, DSA moderates the relationship between leadership and CP.Originality/valueThis study extended the new IIT by empirically testing the six SCQM practices for CP in a DSA context, which can serve as a model for future research in the SCQM, CP and DS fields.

The mediating roles of knowledge transfer and supply chain quality management capabilities on organisational performance

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the relationship between supply chain quality management (SCQM) practices and organisational performance as well as the role of knowledge transfer (KT) and SCQM capabilities in mediating the SCQM practices–organisational performance relationship. Precisely, this study tried to examine how effective are SCQM practices in enhancing SCQM capabilities, KT processes and to illuminate the role both of SCQM capabilities and KT processes in improving a firm’s innovation and operational performance (OP).Design/methodology/approachThis paper applied a quantitative method in which data were collected from a survey with 152 firms functioning in the most pollutant manufacturing sectors (i.e. food, construction, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors) in Palestine. The data analysis was conducted using the partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThis paper provides empirical insights into how to enhance organisational performance via SCQM capabilities and KT. In addition, this study contributes to the conceptualisation of SCQM, involving quality combination capability, supply chain responsiveness capability, quality knowledge sharing capability and provides the managers the ability to train themselves regarding the SCQM with its implication.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications – this paper includes implications for the improvement of SCQM capabilities, the manufacturing organisations should concentrate on establishing modern information technology.Practical implicationsThis paper includes implications for the improvement of SCQM capabilities, the manufacturing organisations should concentrate on establishing modern information technology.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a conceptual framework that tests the combined effect of SCQM practices, SCQM capabilities and KT on innovation and OP from a developing country perspective.

Reinforcing the significance of human factor in achieving quality performance in data-driven supply chain management

PurposeThe paper aims to explore the various dimensions of human factor relevant for integrating data-driven supply chain quality management practices (DDSCQMPs) with organizational performance. Keeping the transition phase from “Industry 4.0” to “Industry 5.0” in mind, the paper reinforces the role of the human factor and critically discusses the issues and challenges in the present organizational setup.Design/methodology/approachFollowing the grounded theory approach, the study arranged in-depth interviews and focus group sessions with industry experts from various service-oriented firms in India. Dimensions of human factor identified from there were grouped together through a morphological analysis (MA), and interlinkages between them were explored through a cross-consistency matrix.FindingsThis research work identified 20 critical dimensions of human factor and have grouped them under five important categories, namely, cohesive force, motivating force, regulating force, supporting force and functional force that drive quality performance in the supply chain domain.Originality/valueIn line with the requirements of the present “Industry 4.0” and the forthcoming “Industry 5.0”, where the need to collaborate human factor with smart system gets priority, the paper made a novel attempt in presenting the critical human factors and categorizing them under important driving forces. The research also contributed in linking DDSCQMPs with organizational performance. The proposed framework can guide the future researchers in expanding the theoretical constructs through initiating further cross-cultural studies across industries.

Unfolding the impact of supply chain quality management practices on sustainability performance: an artificial neural network approach

PurposeIn today’s globalized and heavily industrialized economy, sustainability issues that negatively affect the human population and external environment are on the rise. This study aims to investigate a synergistic combination of supply chain management and quality management practices in strengthening the sustainability performance of Malaysian manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachA total sample of 177 usable surveys was collected. Given the contributions and acceptability of the artificial neural network (ANN) approach in evaluating the findings of this study, this study uses ANN to measure the relationship between each predictor (i.e. supply chain integration [SCI], quality leadership [QL], supplier focus [SF], customer focus (CF) and information sharing [IS]) and the dependent variable (i.e. sustainability performance). Via sensitivity analysis, the relative significance of each predictor variable is ranked based on the normalized importance value.FindingsThe sensitivity analysis indicates that CF has the greatest effect on sustainability performance (SP) with 100% normalized relative importance, followed by QL (75%), IS (61.5%), SF (57.3%) and SCI (46.7%).Originality/valueThe findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable guidance and insights that can help all manufacturing firms enhance their SP from the optimum combination of the selected SCQM practices with a focus on sustainability.

The effect of supply chain quality management on supply chain performance: the indirect roles of supply chain agility and innovation

PurposeThe current study seeks to investigate how supply chain quality management (SCQM) and supply chain agility (SCA) and innovation (SCI) have an impact on supply chain performance (SCP) and how SCQM affects SCP through the mediating role of SCA and SCI capabilities.Design/methodology/approachIn line with the research objective, a quantitative model was applied, and a multi-item survey questionnaire was developed to collect primary data. A random sample of 284 manufacturing firms belonging to different industries was used. The measurement model was assessed for validity and reliability, and satisfactory levels of these tests were demonstrated. Research hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe results of the current study have significant implications in regard to the further improvement of SCP through SCQM. The study also found that SCQM plays a key role across the entire SC network in facilitating and developing SCA and SCI capabilities. The remarkable findings of the current study revealed the indirect effect of SCQM on SCP through SCA and SCI. These results broaden the work of previous studies which identified the positive effects of SCQM on performance by providing meaningful insights into SCQM's role in promoting SCA and SCI capabilities, which, in turn, further improves SCP.Originality/valueThis study addresses a gap in the literature concerning the effect of SCQM on SCP. In addition, it is the first study, to the best of the researchers' knowledge, to explore the role of two major SC capabilities, namely, SCA and SCI on the SCQM–SCP relationship. Moreover, the present study addresses a questionable issue in the literature regarding practices that conceptualize SCQM. Several studies confuse SCQM practices with internal quality management (QM) practices. This study defines SCQM as consisting of collaborative QM practices with external SC members and proposes five related practices for measuring SCQM.

Examining the Effect of Organizational Culture on the Relationship between Supply Chain Quality Management Practices Adoption and Performance of Private Hospitals in Kenya

Health care institutions have complex global supply networks and organizations that have heterogenous cultural configurations. There are a number of studies that have directly linked supply chain quality management practices in the manufacturing sector and other service firms to organizational performance. However, minimal research has been done to examine the role of corporate culture in the relationship. Moreover, there is need to empirically confirm effect of corporate culture in private hospitals in Kenya where provision of quality and affordable health care remains a challenge. Corporate culture fit between organizations serves as a thread that ties firms together. The study was conducted in order examine the effect of organizational culture on the relationship between supply chain quality management practices adoption and performance of private hospitals in Kenya. Positivist research orientation and descriptive cross-sectional research design guided the research process. Raw data was collected from management staff tasked with supply chain decision making responsibility in the hospitals. A response rate of 70.51% was realized. Normality, collinearity, homoscedasticity and autocorrelation constituted model diagnosis. Hypothesis was tested using model fit indices and significance of path coefficient. The findings indicate that corporate culture has significant positive effect on the relationship. The study concluded that right corporate culture among supply chain partners both internally and externally serves as catalyst while implementing SCQM practices to bring about improved performance. It is therefore recommended that for private hospitals to benefit more from improved performance upon adopting SCQM practices, they must ensure homogeneity of cultural configurations internally and externally. In addition, the study provides future researchers with a useful conceptual and methodological reference that can be used in the pursuit of further studies particularly in the area of both supply chain and quality management with specific reference to the corporate culture as a moderating variable.

Influence of data-driven supply chain quality management on organizational performance: evidences from retail industry

PurposeThe objective of the study is to test a conceptual model based on the interrelation between data-driven supply chain quality management practices (DDSCQMP) and the performance of organized retailing firms in India.Design/methodology/approachBased on a comprehensive review of literature, the dimensions of DDSCQMP concerning the Indian organized retail sector have been extracted. Considering the research objectives, the research data has been collected using a structured questionnaire from Indian retailers. Overall 133 questionnaires were responded successfully from retailers. The model was tested using structured equation modeling (SEM) through PLS 3.0.FindingsThe research findings confirm hypotheses and reveal the statistically significant relationship between DDSCQMP and retailers' performance at an aggregate level. However, the results of the individual-level analysis of DDSCQMP appear to vary from practice to practice. Among various DDSCQMP, “customer focus” with the highest beta (ß) value was found to have the greatest impact on performance followed by “employee relations”.Originality/valueThe study provides empirical justification for a structural model that identifies a positive and significant relationship between DDSCQMP and organizational performance within the context of organized retail sector of India.

SUPPLY CHAIN QUALITY MANAGEMENT (SCQM) PRACTICES AND THE EFFECTS ON CUSTOMERS’ SATISFACTION IN THE BREWERY COMPANIES IN CAMEROON

Purpose: The heightening of competitive pressures has led companies to utilizing quality management practices through indirect competition. The brewery companies in Cameroon recently are noticing a wide variety of practices to this effect. This paper so sort to identify the supply chain quality management practices suitable for the brewery companies in Cameroon and also to examine their effects on customer satisfaction.
 Methodology: The study made use of a case study survey research design. The quest for originality and the desire to address issues particular to the brewery companies in Cameroon gave room for the use of primary data collected using a survey questionnaire. From a diverse population 200 customers of the four principal brewery companies in the South West Region participated in the study. The Cronbach’s Alpha was used to identify key constructs of supply chain quality management while the OLS technique was used to examine their effects on customer satisfaction.
 Results: The study found that the supply chain quality management practice suitable for the brewery companies in Cameroon were top management commitment, strategic supplier partnerships, customer relationship management, information sharing and continuous improvement and innovation. Further, top management commitment, strategic supplier partnerships, customer relationship management, continuous improvement and strategic supplier partnership were found to significantly affect customer satisfaction at 5% level of significance while information sharing was insignificant. Generally, 39.9% of variations in customer satisfaction were as a result of changes in supply chain quality management.
 Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The unique contribution to practice rest on clearly identifying the constructs of supply chain quality management suitable to the brewery companies in Cameroon. In relation to theory the study established a significant relationship between supply chain quality management and customer satisfaction and made policy recommendations for the implementation of top management commitment, customer relationship management, continuous improvement and strategic supplier partnership.

Institutional uncertainty and supply chain quality management: A conceptual framework

To cope with external uncertainty, managers adjust supply chain quality management (SCQM) practices to ensure that quality-related aspects of interorganizational resource flows remain stable. This paper considers the nature of those adjustments when uncertainty presides at the institutional level—the political and legal realm where rules governing supply chain exchange are established and enforced. As institutional uncertainty increases, SCQM practices are proposed to shift from postures that abide by the existing institutional order to those that evade or alter unstable institutional settings. Examples of SCQM activities associated with evading and altering postures are likewise offered. An important, and somewhat novel, implication of this work is that effective interorganizational quality management requires capability for navigating and, in some cases, altering institutional environments—jurisdictions sometimes considered beyond the customary scope of quality management.

Developing product recall capability through supply chain quality management

Supply chain quality management (SCQM) has been viewed as a critical method for a manufacturer's management of product recalls. This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of SCQM practices on product recall capability using a sensemaking perspective. We adopt a multi-method approach by combining case study and quantitative survey methods. This study selects three manufacturers from the food, automobile and pharmaceutical industries to conduct an exploratory case study. The findings reveal that product recall capability includes tracking and traceability and formal process, and the manufacturers use quality management teamwork, supplier qualification and supplier involvement as the key SCQM practices. A conceptual framework of the relationships between SCQM practices and product recall capability is developed based on the findings of the case study. The hypotheses are empirically tested using structural equation modelling, bootstrapping method and data collected from 400 manufacturers in China. We find that quality management teamwork and supplier qualification are positively associated with product recall capability. Quality management teamwork is positively associated with supplier qualification and involvement. In addition, supplier qualification partially mediates the effect of quality management teamwork and fully mediates the effect of supplier involvement on product recall capability.

Supply chain quality management and firm performance in China's food industry—the moderating role of social co-regulation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between supply chain quality management (SCQM) and firm performance (including quality safety performance and sales performance) leveraging social co-regulation as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data collected from 203 food manufacturers in China, a series of hierarchical linear modeling analyses were conducted to test hypotheses on the relationships between SCQM and firm performance.FindingsThe findings are threefold. First, all three dimensions of food SCQM practices, i.e., supplier quality management, internal quality management, and customer quality management, have significant positive effects on an enterprise's quality safety performance and sales performance. Second, SCQM practices can also increase sales performance indirectly through quality safety performance as a mediator. Third, while social co-regulation has no significant effect on the relationship between supplier quality management and quality safety performance, it has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between internal quality management and quality safety performance, customer quality management and quality safety performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study not only integrates SCQM with social co-regulation but also explores the regulating effect of social co-regulation through empirical analysis, thereby providing a theoretical base for future research. However, this research is confined to China and so the results are not necessarily generalizable to other countries.Practical implicationsThe findings inform managers of the importance in enhancing awareness of food quality and safety as well as in improving their sensitivity to salient quality demands of external stakeholders in order to achieve better SCQM practices. The findings can also inform policymakers of the significance in designing a systematic multi-agent cooperation mechanism for food SCQM as well as to build an effective information sharing mechanism for social co-regulation of food safety.Originality/valueThis study contributes to knowledge by empirically examining the relationships of SCQM practices with firm performance. It also expands the scope of SCQM research by incorporating social co-regulation in the study framework.

Supply Chain Quality Management (SCQM); A Tool for Financial Performance of Brewery Companies in the South West Region of Cameroon

Purpose: The goal of every business is long term profitability. The outcomes of the 21st century have greatly influenced this goal. In reaction, companies now resort to indirect competition through Supply Chain Quality Management. This paper sort to examine the effect of such practices on the financial performance of the brewery companies in the South West Region of Cameroon. Method: The study made use of primary data collected using a five point likert scale questionnaire administered to 224 employees and 112 distributors of the four major brewery companies in the South West Region of Cameroon. The survey method was applied in a case study design. The ordinary least squares technique was used to assess the effect of supply chain quality management on the financial performance while the Levene statistic was used to test for homogeneity of the responses following the employees and the distributors of the companies. Findings: While surprisingly establishing that information sharing and top management commitment had an insignificant effect and that top management commitment had a negative influence on the financial performance of the companies. Customer relationship management, continuous improvement and innovation and strategic supplier partnership revealed significant positive effects on the financial performance of the companies. However, continuous improvement and innovation and strategic supplier partnership did not portray differences in the responses between employees and distributors while top management commitment and information sharing portrayed variances in the responses and customer relationship management did not show any clear conclusion. Managerial implications (contributions) : The managerial implications rest on the partial implementation of supply chain quality management practices between employees and distributors. Efforts towards continuous improvement and innovation and strategic supplier partnership need to be applied evenly between distributors and employees while emphasis need should not be placed on top management commitment and information sharing. This will give room for improvement and innovation leading to increase in customer satisfaction, sales and other financial parameters of the companies.

Impact of supply chain quality management practices on operational performance: empirical evidence from manufacturing companies in Vietnam

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effect of supply chain quality management on operational performance in Vietnamese manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire survey is conducted to collect data from Vietnamese manufacturing companies in the electronic/electric industry. Collected data were analyzed by using correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis.FindingsThis study points out the current situation of implementing supply chain quality management practices in Vietnamese manufacturing companies which are more focused on internal quality management practices than upstream and downstream quality management practices. Correlation and regression analyses that demonstrate the significant linkage between supply chain quality management practices and operational performance are confirmed in this study. Upstream and downstream quality management are found to be the significant predictor for high performance on quality, cost and delivery.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has some limitations that can be addressed in future studies. The first limitation is the relatively small sample size due to lack of time and resources. These constraint can be overcome in future works by collecting more data in diverse countries and industries to re-examine the framework. Furthermore, larger sample will allow researchers to apply other statistical methods such as path analysis and structural equation modelling, which would provide interesting results. Another limitation is that the collected data in this paper mainly rely on perceptions of the respondents, which may cause individual bias in analysis. To reduce this type of bias, both subjective and objective measurement of scales, especially performance measures, can be used in future studies.Practical implicationsThis study provides empirical evidences that practitioners can use to improve a specific type of performance, especially in the context of emerging economies. In a turbulent and unpredictable business environment, it is emphasized that quality management should be extended at supply chain level to utilize the capabilities of external partners. In Vietnamese manufacturing firms, implementation of such practices as information technology links, information sharing, supplier involvement and customer involvement would lead to high level of operational performance.Originality/valueSupply chain management and quality management are two fields of study that have gained much attention of researchers. However, the concept of supply chain quality management as well as its impact on business performance have not been fully studied, especially in context of a developing country. Through extensive literature review, this study proposes and tests an analytical framework that characterizes supply chain quality management into three elements: internal quality management, upstream quality management and downstream quality management. Subsequently, their impact on quality, cost and delivery are analyzed to provide better understanding of supply chain quality management in Vietnamese context.

The role of absorptive capacity within supply chain quality integration

PurposeThere is a consensus suggesting that the theoretical underpinning associated with supply chain quality management practices remain evolutionary to current thinking. Therefore, this study aims to explore how absorptive capacity (AC) supports supply chain quality integration (SCQI) by building product and process quality within a supply chain (SC).Design/methodology/approachA comparative case study of global pharmaceutical manufacturers in a developing market was undertaken. A two-round qualitative research method was designed to collect data through 54 semi-structured interviews with pharmaceutical managers and senior managers.FindingsThe results demonstrate that AC is essential to the development of SCQI because of its ability to use valuable strategic and operational knowledge, which is important when improving consistent internal product and process quality, along with establishing a robust SC design. The authors found that AC enables companies to design their quality and continuously improve their products and processes among their SC members.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors acknowledge that these sets of findings are difficult to generalise to other sectors, however, the authors are confident that they can be extrapolated to other companies in the pharmaceutical industry.Practical implicationsThe study develops a framework to support practitioners and decision makers to leverage their AC towards facilitating their SCQI practices.Originality/valueThis study explains the role of the AC process in relation to SCQI practices, in the context of the pharmaceutical SC. The study profiles the characteristics of dynamic capabilities to increase the companies’ competencies, processes and resources.

A learning perspective of supply chain quality management: empirical evidence from US supply chains

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the relationship between supply chain quality management practices and their impact on supply chain performance. The authors define and operationalize supply chain quality management practices that enhance knowledge creation and learning in a supply chain.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from logistics and supply chain managers in the USA to examine the validity and reliability of the model for supply chain quality.FindingsThe empirical result provides support for the reliability and validity of the proposed model, the constructs used in the model, and the interrelationships among key constructs of supply chain quality. The authors show that trust is the main predictor of supply chain quality practices and supply chain quality performance outcomes. In addition, the findings show that the impact of trust on process improvement is mediated by information sharing, inter-firm trust and information sharing are significant predictors of supply chain satisfaction, and inter-firm trust and process improvement are significant predictors of supply chain performance. Implications of the research for the theory and practice of supply chain management and quality management are presented.Practical implicationsThis study provides important insights into effective implementation of quality management across the supply chain. Supply chain managers should realize that achieving improvement in many supply chain activities such as information sharing or process improvement requires organizations to be engaged in trust-based activities. In that regard, it is important for supply chain managers to be engaged in developing relationships with their supply chain partners that enhance inter-organizational trust.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examines a supply chain quality management model from the learning perspective. The authors validate the supply chain quality framework proposed by Parast (2103) through operationalization of the constructs, development of the relationship among key supply chain quality practices and empirical assessment of the structural model for supply chain quality.