Niaz Ahmad

Including sustainability in business excellence models

The purpose of this paper is to explore the adequacy of business excellence models (BEMs) to address corporate sustainability, which is conceptualised in terms of economic, social, and environmental bottom lines. How organisations may manage corporate sustainability in the absence of a comprehensive sustainability management system standard is also explored. A survey of literature has been carried out. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model and the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence (BCPE) are analysed with regard to their considerations of sustainability. The findings reveal that while triple bottom-line considerations are addressed to some extent in the studied BEMs, the models per se do not comprehensively address sustainability issues and economic prosperity remains a dominant consideration. Suggestions for the improvement of the EFQM excellence model and BCPE are discussed. To provide a comprehensive approach for addressing corporate sustainability, an integrated quality-sustainability framework is proposed. The essence of the framework is that sustainability indicators, such as those provided in the Global Reporting Initiative framework, could be integrated with core business processes using the structures and infrastructure provided by BEMs. The proposed improvements should be considered in future revisions of the EFQM excellence model and BCPE.

An integrated management systems approach to corporate sustainability

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe an integrated management systems (IMS) approach for the integration of corporate sustainability into business processes.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of published literature was conducted. Building on existing research, the paper presents an original framework for structuring the integration of corporate sustainability with existing business infrastructure. The framework is supported by a detailed set of diagnostic questions to help guide the process. Both the framework and the diagnostic questions are based on the “Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act” cycle of continuous improvement.Findings – The paper highlights the need for a systematic means to integrate sustainability into business processes. Building on that point, the paper illustrates how an IMS approach can be used to structure the entire process of managing, measuring, and assessing progress towards corporate sustainability.Practical implications – The paper should be of interest to both practitioners an...

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE OF PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION IN PAKISTAN

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of total quality management (TQM) in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan. The paper also seeks to contribute to reduce the existing lack of TQM studies in developing countries.Design/methodology/approach – A 29‐item survey questionnaire is sent to 90 pharmaceutical distributors. Response rate is 56.7 per cent. Confirmatory factor analysis deletes one item in the scale purification process.Findings – Data analysis reveal that “process design” (PD) is critical TQM success factor in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan. Like other studies in developing countries, top management in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution companies in Pakistan does not adequately support the TQM implementation.Research limitations/implications – The research is based in Pakistan only. Convenience sampling is done. The response size of the study is small (n=51) though the response rate and significance ar...

Production of rhamnolipid surfactant and its application in bioscouring of cotton fabric

In the present study, a biosurfactant was synthesized by using a bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in minimal media provided with n-heptadecane as sole carbon source under shake-flask conditions. The biosurfactant was isolated (by acid precipitation, solvent extraction, and rotary evaporation), purified (by column chromatography and TLC), identified (by FAB-MS, FTIR, and 1D-(1)H NMR), and chemo-physical characterized (by tensiometry). Two principal rhamnolipid congeners were identified as dirhamnolipid RRC10C10 and monorhamnolipid RC10C10 with a CMC of 50mg/L. The biosurfactant, hence produced, was applied in sole and in combination with pectinase in scouring of cotton fabric in contrast to conventional scouring agents of NaOH and anionic surfactant SDS. The scoured cotton fabric was investigated for its weight loss, residual oil and grease, wettability, whiteness, and tensile strength. The results were compared both for conventional and biological approaches. The scouring with biosurfactant plus pectinase was equivalent to or better in efficiency than conventional alkaline scouring. The former process is additionally environmentally friendly and bio-compatible. Scanning electron microscopy of cotton fabric showed that the alkaline scouring deteriorates the fabric texture whereas bioscouring with biosurfactant plus pectinase gently removes hydrophobic impurities from the cotton fabric.

Knowledge creation through quality management

Organisations use quality management (QM) to improve process performance. However, further improvements and business excellence require acquisition and integration of new knowledge organisation-wide. It is a challenge for managers to design and execute QM practices so that they create new knowledge as well. This article shows how six QM practices (continuous improvement, statistical quality control, customer satisfaction management, process-improvement techniques, individual learning, and new product development methods) can contribute to the four types of knowledge-creating processes (socialisation, externalisation, combination, and internalisation). Such knowledge can be created through multiple channels and at various organisational levels. This article is new in describing the dynamics of how knowledge can be created through QM. This is relevant for both researchers and practitioners.

Effect of Weave Structure on Thermo-Physiological Properties of Cotton Fabrics

Abstract This paper aims to investigate the relationship between fabric weave structure and its comfort properties. The two basic weave structures and four derivatives for each selected weave structure were studied. Comfort properties, porosity, air permeability and thermal resistance of all the fabric samples were determined. In our research the 1/1 plain weave structure showed the highest thermal resistance making it suitable for cold climatic conditions. The 2/2 matt weave depicted the lowest thermal resistance which makes it appropriate for hot climatic conditions.