Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of total productive maintenance (TPM) and total quality management (TQM) practices on operational performance and their inter-relationship. Design/methodology/approach The present study includes three main constructs, namely, TPM, TQM and operational performance of pharmaceutical industry. Under TPM, four constructs, namely, disciplined maintenance, information tracking, housekeeping and operator involvement has been considered with the help of literature. In TQM, four constructs, namely, quality data and reporting, product innovation, research and development (R&D) management and technology management has been considered. Out of 410 Indian pharmaceutical plants contacted for survey, 254 responses have been used in the study for analysis. The factor analysis, path model and structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the proposed framework. The results for alternate models has been studied, interpreted and reported. Finally the direct and indirect effect of TPM and TQM on operational performance has been tested and checked for proving and disproving the hypotheses. Findings TPM practices have a significant impact on plant-level operational performance. When TPM and TQM practices are coming together to achieve operational performance, then TPM is having strong influence on operational performance. TQM is having significant support from TPM to achieve operational performance. TPM impact TQM and TQM in turn helps to achieve operational performance. TPM practices impact significantly R&D, product innovation and technology management, whereas quality data and reporting is the least contributor toward TQM. This may help industry to understand implications of implementation of TPM and TQM to achieve plant-level operational performance. TPM will help to reduce the cost of quality in terms of reduced scrap and less defective products. Practical implications The present study provides the useful insights to practicing managers. In literature it has been mentioned that TQM helps in TPM implementation. In practice TPM plays a great role to achieve quality in processes and therefore in products. In turn quality products, with reduced work in process inventory, less defective products and reduced scrap helps to achieve the operational performance at plant level. TPM practices will help the organization to improve the pace of product innovation and improvement in productivity, which is critical to pharmaceutical industry. The continuous monitoring of TPM practices can help organizations to run day to day operations and maintenance requirement of each machine over a specified period of time. Originality/value The present study diagnoses the inter-dimensional linkage between TPM, TQM and operational performance. The pharmaceutical industry is complex system of advance equipment’s and processes. After human resources, the health of machines/equipment’s describe the strength of an organization. The machines require the regular maintenance to produce the products with desired specifications. The specifications in medicines and very tight, which can be achieved only if machines/testing equipment’s are updated and maintained regularly. The TPM practices will helps the plants to achieve the operational performance by having quality in processes.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of total quality management (TQM) and supply chain management (SCM) practices on operational performance, and their interlinkage between each other. Design/methodology/approach Constructs those are critical to pharmaceutical quality and supply chain have been identified with the help of literature and experts from industry. The impact of TQM practices on supply chain practices and on operational performance has been evaluated. Similarly, the impact of supply chain practices on operational performance has been evaluated. Further, alternate models are tested and evaluated through structural equation modeling. Findings It was observed during testing of alternate models that TQM practices have a direct impact on operational performance. However, TQM practices also directly impact supply chain components, which, in turn, influence overall operational performance. In comparison of alternate models, the model in which TQM practices affect supply chain practices and supply chain practices further affect the operational performance is found most appropriate. Practical implications This study provides some useful implications from industry point of view. TQM practices are critical to pharmaceutical industry. TQM practices are the core of attaining a smooth supply chain, which will have greater impact to achieve operational performance. Strategic supplier partnership, procurement management, information sharing, and quality and inventory management practices are driven by TQM practices. This tri-linkage helps to achieve the desired operational performance. Originality/value There are very limited studies that have considered both the areas together to achieve better operational performance. In pharmaceutical industry, both TQM and SCM are the critical areas for any organization to drive its growth.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the peer-reviewed literature, as well as literature written by practitioners having authority on green supply chains and allied areas with a view to identify future research directions with the help of an extensive literature review. Design/methodology/approach In line with this objective, the constructs “Green Supply Chain Practices” and “Green Supply Chain Performance” were the two terms that were identified for a co-relational study. Findings As indicated by the literature review, there is a need to do a more detailed study that can pinpoint particular components of green supply chain practices that have a strong association with particular components of green supply chain performance. This paper attempts to achieve the aim by using a different connotation of these two constructs. Originality/value Such a study with the connotation and components of green supply chain (GSC) practices and GSC performance as identified and used in this paper might not have been conducted before in the way it is proposed to be used in this paper, thus making this an appropriate contribution. Accordingly, a framework for the research has been depicted, and research questions have been framed.

Purpose – Cold chain has become an integral part of the supply chain domain. The purpose of this paper is to consider all the significant factors in a single study. This will result into a better model to study the effectiveness of a cold chain because there has been absence of such an integrated study. Design/methodology/approach – The basis of the factors is justified by performing extensive literature review. Inter relations are drawn based on critical analysis of each factor and its implications on cold chain. Bayesian Network is used to develop the model. Findings – The end result is an established model, depicting the interdependencies of the factors. The model ultimately provides effectiveness of a given cold chain when the corresponding values of factors are put in. Practical implications – The findings will be helpful for government and non-government bodies to analyse the effectiveness of a cold chain. This can be used to increase the performance of different stages in the cold chain. From a business perspective, an investor can analyse the cold chains of various geographies in order to make an investment decision. Originality/value – The value lies in developing and introducing new factors which were not considered in the related literature previously. To identify the inter relations among the factors in order to build a causal model is another contribution of the present paper. This would assist in decision-making process with respect to any given cold chain. It can be applied to any cold chain as proposed model is not specific to a particular country or material.