Determinants of quality management practices in Kenyan sugar processing industry: A case of Chemelil Sugar Company

Quinter Omware1, Raphael Nyonje1, Muma Benard2

1Department of Education and External studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

2Faculty of Commerce, Department of Accounting, Finance & Management Science, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

Email address: Địa chỉ email này đã được bảo vệ từ spam bots, bạn cần kích hoạt Javascript để xem nó. (Q. Omware), Địa chỉ email này đã được bảo vệ từ spam bots, bạn cần kích hoạt Javascript để xem nó. (R. Nyonje), Địa chỉ email này đã được bảo vệ từ spam bots, bạn cần kích hoạt Javascript để xem nó. (B. Muma)

To cite this article:

Quinter Omware, Raphael Nyonje, Muma Benard. Determinants of Quality Management Practices in Kenyan Sugar Processing Industry: A Case of Chemelil Sugar Company. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences. Vol. 2, No. 6, 2014, pp. 306-312. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.12

QM 01

Abstract:

This study focused on determinants of quality management practices in Kenyan Sugar Processing Industry. Due to sparse distribution of the sugar processing firms in the country, Chemelil Sugar Company was used as a case for the study.

Literature was reviewed on: Demographic factor; Top management commitment, Training factors, Organizational culture and Government policy.

Qualitative research design was used; specifically descriptive survey. Probability sampling specifically stratified sampling at the departments of; Finance & Administration, Factory, Marketing & corporate services, Training & Welfare and finally at Agriculture & Field services was used.

The main research instrument used was self-administered questionnaire. Target population was 861 employees at CSCL, 266 respondents were sampled during data collection; Reliability and Validity of instrument was tested by carrying out a pilot study involving 50 respondents.

After fieldwork, the data was organized according to the population studied. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and by aid of SPSS computer software. Hypothesis `was used and tested using Chi-Square applied at 5% significant level.

Data was presented in table format. Summary of findings revealed that|: Demographic characteristics with indicators of age, gender and education is a determinant of quality practice.

It was evident that there was lack of top management commitment and training which has stagnated improvement of QMS. The study recommends that the organization need to benchmark their quality practices with organizations that have succeeded in quality management.

There is need to train all staff on current quality practices and develop an all-inclusive policy that gives all the gender equal opportunity to suggest on quality assurance changes and ensure continuous improvement of quality process by applying principles like Kaizen that encourages small but significant changes is not an option.

Crucially further research should be done to determine if hiring of employees at CSCL has influence on organizational culture, to find out sustainability factor and funding of Quality Assurance System at implementation stage and assess trailing and training succession program at CSCL.

Keywords:

Determinants of TQM, Quality Management Practices, Sugar Industry