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| The Impact of Quality Management Practices on Competitive Advantage: A Case Study of Manufacturing Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria
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Dr Nwiyii, Blessing Joseph, Dr. Amanawa, David Ebiegberi, Dr Uelee, Micah Nyone
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Abstract:
The paper examined the relationship between quality management practice and competitive advantage of manufacturing industries in Rivers State. The study's objective was to empirically examine how quality management practice relates with competitive advantage of manufacturing industries in Rivers State in terms of brand reputation, customer service and product quality. The study made use of the explanatory cross-sectional survey research design. The study population consisted of selected 20 manufacturing firms in Rivers State with two hundred and thirty-nine (239). The number of respondents was obtained from the Human Resource Departments of the manufacturing firms. These respondents consist of Directors, HODs, Human Resource Managers, and Supervisors. Using the census sampling technique, the study's sample size consisted of the entire two hundred and thirty-nine (239) respondents from the selected 20 manufacturing firms in Rivers State. A total of two hundred and thirty-nine (239) copies of the questionnaire were distributed and the researcher could retrieve 227 copies of the questionnaire correctly filled. The data obtained from the field were analyzed using Spearman's Rank Order Correlation Coefficient and t-test with the aid of SPSS Version 22.0. Three hypotheses were tested using Spearman Rank Order Correlation. Rooted from the empirical analysis carried out, the study showed that: (i) there is a strong positive relationship between quality management and brand reputation of manufacturing industries in Rivers State; (ii) quality management practice has a strong positive relationship with customer service of manufacturing industries in Rivers State, and; (iii) there is a very strong positive relationship between quality management practice and product quality of manufacturing industries in Rivers State. The study concluded that quality management practice enhances manufacturing firms' competitive advantage, especially in terms of brand reputation, customer service and product quality. The study recommended, among others, that management should pay keen attention to the plights of their customers, as these will form guides that will keep them in line with serving their customers best.
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