ISO 9001: 2000 implementation – the North American experience

The Fast Lane of Internationalization of Latin American SMEs: A Location-Based Approach

This paper examines how the institutional environment (from a multi-level approach) and the moderating role of innovation networks and rural location explain which mechanism (institutional fostering or escapism) underlies the phenomenon of accelerated internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises. By analyzing a dataset of 2289 firms from Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, the results suggest that the access of strategic resources and capabilities may either reinforce an institutional fostering or institutional escapism effect. The findings show that institutional fostering is associated with formal institutional voids and rural location, while institutional escapism is associated with local informal institutions, corporate sustainability certifications, and innovation networks. The institutional escapism effect is higher for firms that have social or environmental certifications. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Insights into the reasons behind the limited implementation of ISO 9001 certification: empirical evidence from Yemen

Purpose

While ISO 9001 standard certification is approaching saturation in developed countries, other nations are still struggling with the implementation of ISO 9001. This study provides insights into countries with a very low number of registered certifications to understand the reasons behind the limited implementations, more particularly using evidence from Yemen. The objective of the study is to assess: the awareness, understanding, motivations, barriers and the benefits of implementing ISO 9001.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to measure awareness levels, understanding, driving factors, barriers and the benefits of ISO 9001. Data collection was carried out through the classification of targeted firms into two separate categories, certified and noncertified organizations. The classification of firms was conducted to enrich the understanding from two different perspectives. A total of 72 responses, from companies ranging in size from large to small, and in both the private and public sectors, were analyzed using the descriptive and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA).

Findings

The data analysis showed that the limited implementation of ISO 9001 certifications could be due to several internal and external factors such as the relatively low awareness level of the certification and guidelines, and the inconsistency of understanding the certification purpose. The benefits focused solely on improving the quality of systems efficiency and increasing quality awareness, and not on internationalization.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this work provide the groundwork for decision-makers to understand the drivers and challenges of ISO 9001 to plan corrective actions and contribute to promote and increase the number of certified organizations in similar countries and economies. While the data in this study were collected in the context of one country, the methodology and framework used in this study can be utilized by other researchers to collect data in similar countries with a low number of ISO 9001 certifications.

Originality/value

This research is one of the very few that addresses the limited implementation of ISO 9001 in the Middle East and North Africa region and Yemen in particular.

Risk management integration and supply chain performance in ISO 9001-certified and non-certified firms

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of supply chain risk management integration (RMI) on the relationship between supply chain logistics performance (LP) and supply chain cost performance (CP), as well as on the relationship between LP and supply chain service performance (SP). The impact of CP and SP on overall firm performance (FP) is also explored. ISO 9001-certified firms and non-certified firms are assessed to determine whether superior risk-based thinking, as required in the latest ISO 9001 standard, has a positive impact on the different relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model is developed and tested based on the participation of 140 supply chain managers. The proposed structural equation model positively relates LP, RMI, CP and SP. RMI is positively linked to CP and SP, while CP and SP are positively related to overall FP. Two subsamples (a group of 63 ISO 9001-certified firms and a group of 77 non-certified firms) are used to evaluate the model.

Findings

For certified and non-certified firms, LP is positively related to RMI, CP and SP, and SP and CP are positively related to FP. However, for certified firms, RMI partially mediates the relationship of LP with both CP and SP, while for non-certified firms, RMI does not mediate these relationships. The findings suggest that ISO 9001-certified firms are able to leverage RMI efforts to impact positively on supply chain performance, whereas non-certified firms are not.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings are based on the perceptions of managers. Even though the majority of the 63 certified firms included in this study were ISO 9001:2015 certified, the model results do not differentiate between companies certified to the 2008 version of the standard and the 2015 version (which specifically requires demonstration of risk-based thinking).

Practical implications

This study suggests that ISO 9001 provides a framework for risk management processes and collaboration with supply chain partners to positively impact the relationship of LP with cost and SP.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to characterize the benefits of using a structured approach for risk-based thinking that is associated with ISO 9001.