Sustainable Quality Management: Linking Environmental Compliance to Product and Process Excellence in Industrial Firms
Abstract
This study examines how integrating sustainable supply chain practices with quality management systems enhances product and process excellence in industrial firms. Employing a mixed-method design, the research combines quantitative operational data and qualitative managerial insights to explore mechanisms through which environmental compliance and structured quality practices interact to improve operational efficiency, defect reduction, and overall environmental performance. Data were collected from twelve industrial firms operating in high-impact sectors such as electronics, automotive, and consumer goods, selected based on their implementation of green initiatives alongside Total Quality Management (TQM) practices. Key variables include Environmental Risk Management, Eco-Design Implementation, Supplier Collaboration, and TQM Process Monitoring, while performance outcomes comprise process efficiency, defect rates, and environmental compliance scores. Findings indicate that firms adopting integrated sustainable quality practices achieve superior operational outcomes and enhanced compliance, with feedback loops enabling continuous learning and iterative refinement. The study’s conceptual framework highlights the dynamic interplay between enablers, mediating mechanisms, and performance results, emphasizing that sustainability and quality management are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Compared to conventional models, which often treat sustainability and quality as separate domains, this framework operationalizes the relationships systematically, providing both theoretical and practical contributions. Practically, the results offer actionable guidance for managers to standardize processes, strengthen supplier engagement, and leverage technology and workforce expertise to optimize operational and environmental outcomes. This research contributes novel insights by demonstrating that integrated sustainable quality management can serve as a strategic approach for achieving excellence in industrial operations while maintaining compliance with environmental standards.
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