Assessing the Role of Total Quality Management on Food and Beverages Companies in Lagos Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study is to assess the role of total quality management in food and beverage companies in Lagos Nigeria. The specific objectives include the following:
- To assess the effectiveness of the total quality management practices employed in the food and beverage sector.
- To establish if total quality management practices are employed in the food and beverage sector.
- To determine the extent to which total quality management practices were affecting the performance of the food and beverage sector.
- To determine the total quality management practices related to challenges that faced the food and beverage sector.
- To find out the possible solution to the challenges facing the practice of total quality management in the food and beverage sector.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical Framework
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept Of Total Quality Management
Total quality management (TQM) is an included philosophy of management and conventional practice that focuses on continuous improvement, meeting the demand of the customers, long-range thinking, increased employee involvement, team work, process redesign,competitive benchmarking, team-based problem solving, constant measurement of result and closer relationship with suppliers in order to achieve organizational goals (Nwakanma et al, 2014). According to Juran (1995), total quality management (TQM) is the system of activities directed at achieving delighted customers, empowered employees, higher revenues, and reduced costs. Zehir et al. (2012) see total quality management as a management approach that prescribes guidelines for operation of an organization to achieve high performance. It is an approach of management that emphasizes on quality in accordance with involvement of the members of the organizations to achieve both the short and long time objectives of the organization. Barroet al. (2014) describe total quality management as the culture and attitude that an organization exhibits to satisfy the requirement of the customers when providing product and services to meet their needs.
Several studies such as Kiprotich et al. (2018);Nwakanma et al. (2014); Barro et al (2014); Zehir et al.(2012) etc had employed different proxies for total quality management (TQM). Barro et al. (2014); Zehir et al. (2012) employed leadership, customer focus, process management, employee involvement, continuous improvement as proxies for TQM. Kiprotich et al. (2018) employed employee training, system automation,continuous improvement. Sadikoglu and Olcay (2014)used customer focus, leadership, process management, training, strategic quality planning and supplier quality management. Therefore, in order to achieve the objective of the study, this study adopted process management and employee empowerment as proxies for total quality management.
The pointers in the business sector are applicable to the food and beverage sector; therefore, quality management practices seem to appreciation of the concept of quality management practices by the stakeholders of this sector, especially the employees.
Strategic Quality Planning
Strategic quality planning represents a progressive activity that managers should envisage and take part in the availability and implementation of the strategic plan is vital to the firm’s free flow ability in managing external changes (Jaafreh, 2011). The survival of businesses is traceable to the ability to successfully operate within environmental forces that are unstable and intense and which can seriously affect the process of decision making. Firms get used to these environmental forces as they plan and carry out strategic actions. It is through strategic quality planning that a firm can predict changes in the environment and act proactively (Miller & Cardinal, 1994).It is without doubt that corporate performance has is greatly and positively influenced by strategic quality planning (Dansoh, 2005). It is worthy of note that the implementation proves to be the most uneasy fragment of the strategic arrangement that is to put into play the planning being proactive enough to identify greater opportunity which may be actualized plan and modifying the plan to suit the surfaced event; while evaluation and review is the final stage. This phase ends to captures monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and review of the arrangements. This is vital for the stability between implementation and planned tactical guidelines.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out on the role of total quality management on food and beverages companies in Lagos Nigeria using Nestle Nigeria Plc as a case study. Staff in the quality control department form the population of the study. And, this information was gotten from staff that were present as at the day and time of this research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of thirty-six (36) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only thirty (30) were returned and validated. For this study a total of 30 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was on the role of total quality management on food and beverages companies in Lagos Nigeria using Nestle Nigeria Plc, Lagos State as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at highlighting the effectiveness of the total quality management practices employed in the food and beverage sector, establish if total quality management practices is employed in the food and beverage sector, determine the extent to which total quality management practices were affecting performance of the food and beverage sector, determine the total quality management practices related challenges that faced the food and beverage sector and find out the possible solution to the challenges facing the practice of the total quality management in the food and beverage sector. A total of 30 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are drawn from selected staff of quality control department.
CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- The total quality management practices employed in the food and beverage sector is effective.
- Total quality management practices is employed in the food and beverage sector
- To a high extent total quality management practices is affecting performance of the food and beverage sector.
- The total quality management practices challenges that faced the food and beverage sector is lack of leadership commitment, poor and ineffective leadership, lack of funding and resources and lack of proper training of staff.
- The possible solution to the challenges facing the practice of the total quality management in the food and beverage sector is to develop Measures and Metrics to track CSF data, clarify vision, mission, and values, solicit customer feedback and develop an improvement plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
Policies and practices that will encourage implementation of TQM practices should be enacted and sustained. Such policies and practices should also be subjected to periodic review in line with changing environmental factors.
Organizations should endeavour to encourage employee participation in the development of TQM practices. Of particular interest is the emphasis that reward and recognition of employees’ achievement in the TQM process should not be taken for granted since it has the potential to improve employees’ dedication to work, creativity and vigour, as this study has shown to be fundamental for organizational success.
REFERENCES
- Adam Everett, E. (1972). “An Analysis of Changes in performance quality with operant conditioning procedures, Journal of Applied Psychology”. Vol. 56, no.6 pp480-486.
- Akapo, O. E. (2011). Enhancing organizational performance through strategic management: Conceptual and theoretical approach.
- Akpeyi, J.J. (1996). Total Quality Management-A Tool for Organizational Excellence,
- Aluko, M, Odugbesan, O, Gbadamosi, G, and Osuagwu, L. (2007). Business policy and strategy. Third Edition; Lagos:Longman Nigeria Plc. Approach. Carflax : Abingdon.
- Arene, V.N. (1995)NNPC embraces Total Quality Management; Napecter, 2nd Quarter, Vol 16, No.2, P.16.
- Bakabas, E. Yawas, U. &Avei, T (2003) The effect of management commitment to service quality on employee Affective and performance outcomes, Journals of Academy of Marketing services summer P.272.
- Baridam, D. (2001). Research Methods in Administrative Science. Choba-Port-Harcourt, University of Port Hracourt Publishing House.
