Quality management and operational performance: a systematic literature review

Fathy Alkhatib, Juman Alsadi, Jiju Antony, Michael Sony, Shreeranga Bhat, Bart Lameijer and Maher Maalouf

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2026, vol. 75, issue 11, 54-81

Abstract: PurposeThis research aims to investigate how operational performance in manufacturing and service sectors is affected by quality management (QM) strategies. Aiming to synthesize existing knowledge, identify research gaps and build a comprehensive framework for QM in today's digital environment, the study investigates the convergence of established approaches, TQM and Lean Six Sigma, with emerging digital frameworks, including Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Quality 4.0 (Q4.0).Design/methodology/approachFifty-seven peer-reviewed Scopus-indexed papers were examined using structured search criteria and predefined inclusion criteria employing methodologies of systematic literature review (SLR). Including modern industrial data from McKinsey and Toyota helped to deepen the theoretical study by combining scholarly theory with useful applications.FindingsBy enhancing efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction, QM techniques greatly improve operational performance. Service industries rely on customer-centered metrics; manufacturing sectors usually stress process optimization and defect reduction. While companies generally agree that digital technologies such as IoT and AI-driven analytics have transformative power, scholarly research shows inadequate practical integration with conventional QM practices, exposing significant research prospects.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent of the research is limited by depending just on Scopus database resources. Future studies should evaluate long-term Q4.0 integration effects, empirically validate the suggested paradigm and investigate socio-technical aspects in several industry settings.Originality/valueThis work distinguishes industry-specific performance measurements and links academic insights with pragmatic organizational experiences, so it uniquely aggregates scattered QM material. It offers a thorough maturity-based road map for academics and professionals aiming to efficiently integrate digital technology and QM for operational excellence.

Keywords: Quality management; Systematic literature review; Operational performance; Total quality management; Quality 4.0; Industry 4.0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijppmp:ijppm-02-2025-0149

DOI: 10.1108/IJPPM-02-2025-0149

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