How improving quality improves supply chain management: empirical study

Purpose – Much has already been written about the effects of ISO 9000 standards on business performance, mostly supporting the notion that implementing a standardized quality management system is beneficial. That said, no studies have been made into the impact that the implementation of these regulations has had on improvements, if any, to supply chain management (SCM). This paper aims to give an initial outline on this subject. Design/methodology/approach – Using the five strategies proposed by Chandra and Kumar in 2000 that aimed at stimulating the implementation of correct SCM, along with an empirical study carried out in nearly 400 companies certified to ISO 9000 standard, how this quality assurance standard contributes to successful SCM implementation is analysed. Findings – From the obtained results, it is interesting to point out that not only those indicators which show clear improvements in the SCM have been found but also those aspects in which the companies themselves recognize their limitations. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to analyse the effects of the implementation of a Quality Management Standard such as the ISO 9000, through SCM.