Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that enable total quality management (TQM) implementation in the readymade garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh. More specifically, the present study is a supplement of the previous call from research to investigate the TQM-enabling factors from a broader aspect of organizational change. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted through an online survey, followed by phone calls. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey with 256 respondents of the Bangladeshi RMG sector. The TQM-enabling factors were divided into five distinct groups, based on strategic or overall changes required within an organization for TQM implementation. A theoretical research model was created to investigate the contingency of various TQM-enabling factors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to confirm the factor that enabled TQM implementation in the RMG sector of Bangladesh. Findings The main finding of this study shows that structural, strategic, contextual and human resource-enabling factors are significant to TQM implementation in the Bangladeshi RMG sector. Research limitations/implications This study has been completed in single time frame. Therefore, consideration of the time factor is completely ignored in this research. Furthermore, understanding of TQM-enabling factors in this research relied on quantitative findings only. Also, this study was limited to one industry and one geographic region. However, this study could determine whether data triangulation will provide a good perception on enabling factors and the methodology can be extended to other industries and regions. Practical implications This study provides a research methodology for other manufacturing industries that are planning to implement TQM in their organization. This research will contribute to the existing literature by examining the contingency of various TQM-enabling factors in the context of the Bangladeshi RMG sector, and it, therefore, provides direction to increase the success rate of TQM implementation. Furthermore, the research methodology can be used in other studies for variation of contextual variables such as size of the industry, developed or underdeveloped country and manufacturing or service industry. Originality/value The methodology used in this study can lead the way for other industries in the RMG sector that implements TQM in their organization. Also, this research further contributes to the existing literature by investigating the contingency of various TQM enabling factors in the context of the Bangladeshi RMG sector and developing associated strategies to raise success rate of TQM implementation.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative importance of different total quality management (TQM) implementation barriers in the context of Readymade Garment (RMG) industries in Bangladesh. Present study has developed a hierarchical framework of several TQM barriers to assess their importance. Expert opinions from RMG industries have been taken to evaluate the importance of one barrier over another. Design/methodology/approach Methodology adopted in this study to find out the rank of different TQM barriers is fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Findings The study shows that, according to order, inappropriate planning of TQM implementation program, lack of financial support, lack of employee training, lack of empowerment of employees, lack of sufficient physical resources, etc. are critical barriers and hampering the successful implementation of TQM program in this sector. Research limitations/implications This study has both theoretical and practical implications. It has found out strong and weak contribution of different barriers during TQM implementation. Therefore, this finding will strengthen the knowledge of successful implementation of TQM and will further enrich the existing literature in the context of manufacturing industries in developing countries. Moreover, this finding will also help the decision makers in preparing an effective plan for successful implementation of TQM by utilizing limited resources. Practical implications Moreover, our results will aid the managers of RMG sector to find the weight of importance of different barriers. Accordingly, they will make a plan to overcome the major TQM barriers which will increase the success rate of TQM implementation. Every Successful program will bring business excellence. These findings could be a guideline for TQM implementation program in developing countries. Originality/value Present study possesses some significant values. First, so far our knowledge go, no other study has developed a hierarchical structure of TQM barrier on the basis of overall change needed within the organization for TQM implementation. Second, this study could be a good guideline for TQM implementation program in RMG sector in developing countries.

The main aim of this paper is to prepare a comprehensive list of benefits offered by Integrated Management System (IMS) discussed in the previous literature. This paper had followed a methodology for literature review based on the keyword search in the electronic database of Web of science, Science direct, Scopus and Emerald. Findings of this literature review have unveiled several important and interesting benefits offered by the integrated management system and wider scope of integration. Several studies have confirmed the listed benefits of integrated management system, namely, Quality Management System (QMS) according ISO 9001, Environmental Management System (EMS) according ISO 14001 and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) according ISO 45001/BS OSHAS 18001. Moreover, this study has highlighted some dimensions of future study in line with the analysis of benefits of integrated management system.

This research explores the causes and intensity of demand fluctuation and supply shortage of a supply chain (SC) occurred specially at the festival times. Management offers sales incentives & product discounts at festival times that sometimes create a complex situation to supply the demands properly. This complexity restricts SC performance and market possession. Hence, this research aimed to explore the responsible causes behind this complexity & bullwhip occurrence and claimed sales force incentives, number of echelons, price variation, quantity discount, & machine breakdown as the most responsible causes. Intensity of bullwhip effect (BWE) was measured by Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) of MATLAB TM to visualize their severity on SC performance. Few strategies have been proposed to minimize thier severity on SC excellence. Finally, this article proposed some managerial applications and guidelines to release the management from the frequently arising problems of distorted demands that will result in proper production & inventory management.

The focus of this paper is to develop a framework for implementation of integrate management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 180001 and SA 8000). At present, these management systems are used individually in several industrial organizations. Dealing with these separate management systems and ensuring their alignment with business goal are the two big issues. Increased compatibility between these standards has paved the road for integration. With the co-ordination of holistic approach like TQM, it can easily embed the existing quality, health & safety, social responsibility and environmental processes in the culture of continuing improvement. Several researches have been conducted to understand the different aspects of integration. But, no suitable aspect of integration has been developed yet. The main finding of this paper concludes that, integration on the basis of philosophical compatibility between TQM and other standards can create a generic approach for implementation. Furthermore, this aspect of integration will also give administrative benefits related to implementation and maintenance of the systems.