Evangelos Psomas

The impact of innovation capability on the performance of manufacturing companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide additional evidence of the impact of innovation on three dimensions of a firm’s performance, namely product quality, operational performance and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis includes an initial exploratory factor analysis, followed by confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling, in order to investigate the relations between the constructs of the proposed model. A sample of 233 Greek manufacturing firms is used for this purpose. Findings – According to the study findings, “innovation capability” directly contributes to product quality and operational performance. Although it has no direct impact on manufacturing firms’ financial performance, it has an indirect impact through the moderator of operational performance. Thus, innovation is an opportunity for a manufacturing firm to improve its performance. Research limitations/implications – The sample of the responding manufacturing companies is limited t...

The impact of total quality management on service company performance: evidence from Spain

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore the impact of total quality management (TQM) factors on performance dimensions of service companies. Design/methodology/approach – A research project was designed in the Spanish services sector. Companies that had already participated in activities with regard to business excellence were randomly selected and approached through a structured questionnaire, yielding a sample of 151 responding companies. By analyzing TQM implementation and company performance through the exploratory factor analysis, specific TQM factors and performance dimensions are extracted. The TQM factors that significantly influence the performance dimensions are determined through multiple linear regression analyses. Findings – According to the findings, the factors describing TQM implementation in service companies concern quality practices of top management, employee quality management, process management, employee knowledge and education and customer focus. Similarly, the performance...

The impact of quality management systems on the performance of manufacturing firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide additional evidence of the impact of ISO 9001 effectiveness on three dimensions of a firm’s performance, namely product quality, operational performance and business performance. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis includes an initial exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), in order to investigate the relations between the constructs of the proposed model. A sample of 287 ISO 9001 certified Greek manufacturing firms is used for this purpose. Findings – According to the study findings, ISO 9001 effectiveness directly contributes to product quality and operational performance. Although it has no direct impact on manufacturing firms’ business performance, it has an indirect impact through the moderator of operational performance. Research limitations/implications – The sample of the responding manufacturing companies is limited to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs...

The effectiveness of the ISO 9001 quality management system and its influential critical factors in Greek manufacturing companies

The purpose of the study is firstly, to empirically validate the conceptual structure of the effectiveness of the ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) in manufacturing companies and secondly, to determine the critical factors that have a significant impact on the QMS’s effectiveness. A research study was carried out through a structured questionnaire in a sample of 163 ISO 9001 certified Greek companies. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are applied to extract and validate latent constructs, while their relationships are determined through structural equation modelling. The analyses confirm the conceptual factorial structure of the ISO 9001 QMS’s effectiveness which consists of three dimensions – the ISO 9001 objectives (prevention of non-conformities, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction focus). The analysis also confirms the five dimensions of the critical factors for ISO 9001 QMS effectiveness identified in the literature (internal motivation, external environment pressure, company attributes, employee attributes and quality system attributes). However, only the company internal motivation, company attributes and employee attributes have a significant impact on the ISO 9001 QMS’s effectiveness.

Total quality management practices and performance outcomes in Spanish service companies

The present study focuses on total quality management (TQM) implementation in service companies. The purpose of the study is to determine the latent factors of the TQM practices implemented as well as the dimensions of the respective performance outcomes. A research project was carried out in 72 Spanish service companies, using the questionnaire method. Two measurement models were formulated. The first model includes the TQM practices, while the second contains the performance outcomes. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to extract the latent factors. The TQM factors revealed by this study are the quality practices of top management, process management, employee quality management, customer focus and employee knowledge and education. The dimensions of the performance outcomes are financial performance, customer satisfaction, product/service quality performance and operational performance. In this study, TQM adoption in service companies is decoded by determining specific TQM factors. Moreover, the performance outcomes from TQM are classified. The TQM factors and the dimensions of performance outcomes expand the literature on TQM in the services sector.

The underlying factorial structure and significance of the Six Sigma difficulties and critical success factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the underlying structure (latent constructs) of the difficulties and critical success factors (CSFs) of Six Sigma implementation in manufacturing companies. Determining the significance Greek manufacturing companies give to the Six Sigma difficulties and CSFs is also an aim of the present study. Design/methodology/approach – A research study was carried out in 91 ISO 9001 certified Greek manufacturing companies through a structured questionnaire. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to determine the underlying structure (latent constructs) of the Six Sigma difficulties and CSFs, while their significance is determined through descriptive statistics. Findings – Three latent constructs of Six Sigma difficulties are extracted, namely, “implementation patterns of Six Sigma methodology”, “absence of human interest and support”, and “low quality management level”. These difficulties are not considered very significant by the sample companies. Three latent co...

ISO 9001 overall performance dimensions: an exploratory study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to validate and assess the performance dimensions reflecting ISO 9001 benefits in service companies and to determine their relationships. Design/methodology/approach – A research study was carried out in 198 ISO 9001:2008 certified Greek service companies. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire and have been analyzed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Findings – Four performance dimensions reflecting ISO 9001 benefits are extracted and validated, namely, product/service quality, operational, market and financial performance. Research limitations/implications – The research sample is limited to small and medium-sized enterprises operating in a specific European country. Further research may confirm the findings of this study to other countries as well. Practical implications – By determining and evaluating the performance dimensions and their inter-relationships, the ISO 9001 certified service companies are assisted to select an appropri...

The innovation practices of manufacturing companies in a period of economic turbulence: the Greek case

The purpose of the study is to validate the factorial structure of innovation practices identified in the literature and evaluate their implementation level in manufacturing companies operating in circumstances of economic downturn and financial crisis. A research study was carried out in a sample of 233 Greek manufacturing companies operating in a business environment where a financial crisis has dominated for at least four years now. Data were obtained from the Chief Executive Officer of the companies through a structured questionnaire. Exploratory Factor Analysis is applied in order to extract the latent factors of innovation practices, while their validity is confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The level of the innovation practices implemented by the companies is determined through descriptive statistics. The analysis of the empirical data from small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises strongly confirms the conceptual structure of company innovation which consists of four dimensions, namely product, process, marketing and organisational innovation. The level of adoption of the four dimensions of innovation by the sample companies is deemed high, though not, however, excellent. Thus, the sample companies can put additional emphasis on innovation. In doing so, innovation may be a key factor in a companys efforts to overcome the negative effects of the current economic downturn and financial crisis.

Total quality management elements and results in higher education institutions: The Greek case

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of this paper is to determine the main total quality management (TQM) elements adopted and the respective results achieved by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Greece. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nA research study was designed and carried out in private sector Greek HEIs. Fifteen HEIs were approached through interviews based on a structured questionnaire. The measured variables of the TQM elements and results identified in the literature were used as the questionnaire items. Descriptive statistics were applied to determine the TQM elements mostly adopted and the results achieved by the HEIs. n n n n nFindings n n n n nAccording to the findings, the TQM elements mostly adopted by the Greek HEIs concern the following: student focus, leadership and top management commitment, strategic quality planning, process management and teaching staff and employee involvement. On the other hand, the most significant results achieved by the sample HEIs concern quality performance improvement, teaching staff and employee satisfaction, operational performance improvement and the positive impact on society. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nThe subjective data collection involved chief executive officers of a small sample of HEIs operating in a European Union country. Thus, no advanced statistical methods could be applied. Based on these limitations, future research studies are recommended. n n n n nPractical implications n n n n nBy focusing on specific TQM elements, an HEI can develop a robust TQM model, approach business excellence, which can, in turn, help the HEI apply for appropriate quality awards, and finally derive significant benefits. In doing so, an HEI can lay the foundations for being competitive in the current global context that is characterised by an economic downturn. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThis study contributes to the literature by empirically determining the TQM elements mostly adopted as well as the respective results achieved by Greek HEIs in a period of economic downturn. This is the first research study in the field of TQM in higher education that has been carried out in Greece in a period where many service organisations, whether private or public, are making significant efforts to withstand the current downturn and achieve a sustainable growth.

Assessing Lean adoption in food SMEs: Evidence from Greece

Purpose The purpose of the study is to determine the current state of the Lean principles adopted by food SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). Design/methodology/approach The case study approach was undertaken in order to gain insights into Lean adoption. Nine Greek food SMEs certified according to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) and the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) were approached. Interviews were conducted with the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and the company managers in charge of the QMS or FSMS, based on a structured questionnaire. Findings The food SMEs participating in the present study adopt Lean principles to a high extent. However, there is room for further improvement. Research limitations/implications The fact that the data collected suggests subjective business evidence and not objective as well as the fact that only two representatives of each of the nine food SMEs were conducted, comprise the main limitations of the present study. So, the results should...