Product Quality Certification Schemes and Product Performance in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2020-10
Authors
Mwike, Detela Mwanamwaka
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Quality assurance programmes in food and beverage manufacturing are aimed at ensuring
efficient and effective output of products that meet needs of consumers (Quality) and adhere to
regulatory requirements. In Kenya, the foremost quality assurance programs are mandatory and
are supervised by government agencies to check for compliance. In the manufacturing sector,
food and beverage subsector, have adopted international and product specific quality assurance
programs in abide to meet the objectives. The general objective of this study was to investigate
the influence of product quality certification schemes on product performance in food and
beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the
study were to determine the influence of ISO 9001:2008, diamond mark and standardization
mark on product performance in food and beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County,
Kenya. The study was guided by quality management theory and structural contingency theory.
This study adopted a descriptive research design for the study. The study targeted 65 respondents
comprising of quality assurance managers and support staff. A cluster sampling was carried out
to sample the respondents. Questionnaires were used as data collection instruments which were
administered to all the respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis such as mean and standard
deviation were used to analyze quantitative. Multiple regressions were used to determine the
relationship between variables. ISO 9001:2008, diamond mark and standardization mark was
found to have a positive significance on product performance. The study concludes that ISO
9001:2008 provides managers with a tool that is designed to continually improve their business
performance and gives an organization a positive image, raising it up to the level of its
competitors or perhaps even a level higher. Diamond mark is a mark of excellence awarded to
manufacturers either based locally or abroad which has demonstrated high degree of excellence
in product manufacturing and quality. On standardization mark, the study concludes that for the
organization to acquire the mark, manufactured goods are expected to meet quality requirements
as specified in the various Kenya/Approved Standards. The study recommends that the
organization should set objectives of the processes and systems on what to do and how to do to
deliver results. The organization should effectively adopt diamond mark and use it as a strategic
decision that enables organizations to continuously improve their overall product performance
and focus on providing customers with products and services of consistent quality. The
organization to employ a staff compliment of qualified auditors to cater to all its field of
operations in carrying out evaluation and assessment techniques to a high degree of professional
competence.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management) of Kenyatta University October, 2020
Keywords
Quality Certification Schemes, Product Performance, Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms, Nairobi City County, Kenya