Influence of Quality Management Certification Systems on Product Development of Food Processing Firms in Kenya: a Case of Delmonte Kenya Ltd, Thika, Kiambu County

Abstract

Manufacturing companies1 are1 important to economic growth and1 development because1 they provide1 goods1 and1 jobs. As1 a result, their ability to compete1 is1 crucial. As1 a result of increasing globalization, the1 businesses1 have1 come1 up against stiff competition1 from overseas1 corporations. Strategic drivers1 have1 been1 identified1 as1 important facilitators1 of business1 success1 and1 competitiveness. It is1 on1 this1 basis1 that the1 study sought to establish the1 influence1 of quality management certification1 systems1 on1 product development of food1 processing firms1 in1 Kenya: a case1 of Delmonte1 Kenya Ltd, Thika, Kiambu county. The1 study was1 informed1 by Resource-Based1 View Theory and1 Quality Improvement Theory. Empirical studies1 were1 reviewed1 to provide1 the1 basis1 for research gaps1 to be1 filled1 by the1 current study. The1 independent variables1 used1 were1 continuous1 improvement management systems, human1 resource1 management systems, customer relations1 management systems1 & project management information1 systems1 and1 the1 dependent variable1 was1 product development of Delmonte1 Kenya Ltd. The1 study used1 descriptive1 research design. It aimed1 at the1 120 management staff of Delmonte1 Kenya Ltd. The1 sample1 consisted1 of all the1 120 staff. Primary data for the1 study was1 collected1 using questionnaires1 that were1 administered1 to the1 respondents1 and1 interview guide1 used1 to interview top management. Pilot test was1 conducted1 to check on1 validity and1 reliability. Descriptive1 statistics1 was1 used1 to analyze1 quantitative1 data using statistical software1 of Statistical package1 for social sciences1 while1 qualitative1 data was1 analyzed1 through content analysis. The1 questionnaire1 included1 only relevant questions1 measuring known1 indicators1 of the1 variables. This1 was1 done1 with the1 help of the1 supervisor to assess1 the1 validity of the1 questionnaires. The1 researcher informed1 the1 respondents1 that the1 data being collected1 was1 for academic purpose1 only and1 the1 response1 from the1 respondents1 will be1 kept confidential. Content testing will be1 applied1 to guarantee1 that the1 tool is1 prepared1 in1 an1 easy-to-understand1 language1 and1 that the1 questions1 are1 straightforward. The1 reliability was1 determined1 using the1 Cronbach alpha test of 0.875. The1 findings1 were1 presented1 in1 form of Frequency distribution1 tables. The1 findings1 of this1 study revealed1 that continuous1 improvement management systems, human1 resource1 management systems, customer relations1 management systems1 and1 project management information1 systems1 are1 critical factors1 with positive1 influence1 on1 product development. The1 study therefore1 recommends1 that manufacturing companies1 who are1 developing new and1 existing products1 should1 have1 a research team involved1 in1 the1 development and1 design1 of new products1 and1 services. The1 study also recommends1 that organizations1 should1 commit adequate1 resources1 for employee1 training & education1 and1 offer employees1 opportunity for career growth through training and1 development. The1 study recommends1 that the1 organisation1 should1 maintain1 a close1 link with its1 customers1 and1 conduct regular customer satisfaction1 surveys. The1 study further recommends1 that organizations1 should1 conduct periodic internal and1 surveillance1 quality audits1 to determine1 suitability and1 effectiveness1 of the1 system. The1 researcher recommends1 that future1 research should1 be1 undertaken1 on1 the1 influence1 of quality management certification1 systems1 on1 product development by other economic sectors1 such as1 pharmaceuticals, marine1 and1 ICT.