Improving quality management: ISO 9001 benefits for agrifood firms

Purpose - ISO 9001 can offer users substantial management benefits. For developing country firms, this standard could offer both important management improvements and serve as a quality signal to foreign suppliers and potential buyers. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of ISO 9001 on food manufacturing firms in Guyana. Design/methodology/approach - A multiple case study approach, using interviews with multiple managers, was used to assess the impacts of ISO 9001 in six registered and non-registered firms. Findings - ISO 9001 offers supply chain management benefits. Non-registered firms reported using the standard to formalize their monitoring procedures and improve planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery efficiency. Registration helped firms formalize their quality management systems; it provided guidance on improving their customer/supplier relationships, and offered tools to monitor internal processes. Registered and non-registered firms reported increased customer satisfaction, market share and inventory turnover, and reduced lead times, rework, waste, and customer complaints. Research limitations/implications - The number of cases examined in this study is limited. Interview data are based on managers’ perceived experiences; it was not possible to verify this information independently. Originality/value - The paper examines management benefits of adopting an international quality management standard in developing country agrifood firms.