An investigation into the implementation of total quality environmental management (TQEM) for sustainbility in Libyan food industry
Environmental and quality management have become an important part of businesses all over the world. This involves changes in understanding and practice at all levels of the organisation and requires the training of the workforce, recognition by senior management that the workforce can contribute and are essential to gaining quality enhancement, and also that customers are important stakeholders, who must be satisfied with all aspects of the operation. There has been an increasing demand for the manufacturing industry to implement sustainable production policies. To meet this demand, environmental management plays an important role as part of the total quality management system of the company. To enhance the environmental management, the total quality management system must be successfully implemented. This research investigates the implementation of total quality environmental management (TQEM) in the Libyan food industry (LFI). This study aims to develop a framework for TQEM implementation to solve problems concerning quality and the environment in the LFI, in order to achieve a better level of environmental and quality management and to develop modern managerial techniques. In particular, this investigation helps the LFI to increase its environmental protection and to achieve a high quality in its services and production. Interviews and questionnaires were conducted for this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 managers in the LFI as the first phase of the research in order to study the current situation, the barriers to, and motivations for, the implementation of TQEM in the LFI. The questionnaire that was circulated was designed to investigate the TQEM issues, national environmental factors, barriers to, and motivations for its implementation in the LFI. The questionnaire was conducted with managers at three levels (top, middle, and low) and oriented sampling was used with employees from three companies in the LFI. The findings indicate that the LFI does not make sufficient efforts to improve its environmental performance and quality. Further, it was found that the LFI is still at a quite low level of achievement for Environmental Management System (EMS). The national environmental factors for the need to implement TQEM in the LFI were identified, through this research, as technical capability, organisational culture, human resources, competition, government policy, and social responsibility. The barriers to implementing TQEM in the LFI that were identified through this research are: the lack of top management commitment, the misunderstanding of TQEM, insufficient training at all levels, a lack in achieving a knowledge of customers’ needs and satisfaction, the lack of support for employees’ participation, the lack of information systems, and the lack of government environmental control. The motivations for implementing TQEM in the LFI that were identified through this research, including cost savings, increased production efficiency, the reduction of waste and pollution to the environment, the reduction of energy consumption, the reduction of natural resources’ consumption, and improved environmental performance. Based on the findings of this research, a framework and processes for TQEM was developed. The key objective of this TQEM framework designed to help the LFI to get started and to move step by step towards a TQEM culture. This will pay attention to the standards of work and environmental protection that are expected from the LFI, including agreed TQEM objectives, the sharing of relevant information, training programmes, and performance criteria. Some recommendation to aid the LFI’s preparations for TQEM implementation have also been derived from this research.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations