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This research investigates the relationships among total quality management practices (TQMP), supply chain management practices (SCMP) and firm's supply performance (FSP) in the automotive industry in Thailand. The measurement instruments for SCMP, TQMP and FSP were developed based on an extensive literature review and verified by experts, pilot test and various statistical techniques to ensure reliability and validity in structural equation modeling constructs. The hypothesized model was tested through a path analysis. Qualitative case studies of two large first-tier automotive suppliers were conducted to obtain more in-depth information. We found that the set of SCMP, TQMP and FSP measures are reliable and valid for Thailand's automotive industry. TQMP not only has a significant direct positive impact on SCMP and on FSP but also a significant indirect positive impact on FSP through SCMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to assess the level of supply chain management practices (SCMP), total quality management practices (TQMP) and firm's supply performance (FSP) in the automotive industry in Thailand and investigate the differences across organizational characteristics on SCMP, TQMP and FSP. Design/methodology/approach – Based on an extensive literature review, the measurement instruments for SCMP, TQMP and FSP were developed and validated by experts, pilot test and various statistical techniques. Descriptive statistics were employed to examine the existences of SCMP, TQMP and FSP in the sample companies. MANOVA was applied to test the differences across company ownership, company size, tier in the supply chain and ISO/TS 16949 on SCMP, TQMP and FSP. Findings – The author found that the measurements of SCMP, TQMP and FSP are reliable and valid. The automotive companies in Thailand apply TQMP much more extensively than SCMP. Their SCMP still emphasize efficient flows of information and materials at operational level to minimize transaction cost. Overall, Japanese companies, large companies, first-tier suppliers and the companies with ISO/TS 16949 have more intensively applied SCMP and TQMP and achieved a higher level of FSP. Research limitations/implications – The distribution of paper-based questionnaires was a convenience sample. Although data from a sample of 211 companies were collected, only 19 percent of them provided more than one response. Future research should apply different random sampling methods and investigate the reasons for and ways to improve the low multiple-response rate. Practical implications – The findings are beneficial to the managers who want to improve SCMP, TQMP and FSP through organization management. Originality/value – This study is one of the first to assess the existence of SCMP and FSP and to study the differences across organizational characteristics on SCMP and FSP in the automotive industry in developing countries. The existence and differences across organizational characteristics on TQMP were also confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This research aims to investigate the relationships among employee involvement, partnership management, and a firm's supply performance in the automotive industry in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach – The measurement instruments for employee involvement, partnership management and a firm's supply performance were developed based on an extensive literature review, and validated by experts. They were pilot-tested, and analyzed using various statistical techniques to ensure reliability and validity in structural equation modeling constructs. A hypothesized model was tested through path analysis. Findings – The study found that the measurements of employee involvement, partnership management, and a firm's supply performance are reliable and valid for Thailand's automotive industry. Employee involvement has not only a significant direct positive impact on partnership management and firm's supply performance, but also a significant indirect positive impact on a firm's supply performance through partnership management. Research limitations/implications – The distribution of paper-based questionnaires was a convenience sample. Although data from a sample of 211 companies was collected, only 19 percent of them provided more than one response. Future research should apply different random sampling methods, and investigate the reasons for and ways to improve the low multiple-response rate. Practical implications – The findings are beneficial to managers in the automotive industry in developing countries who want to improve partnership management and supply performance through employee involvement. Originality/value – This study is one of the first to examine the linkage among internal employee involvement, external partnership management, and a firm's supply performance in the automotive industry in a newly industrialized country such as Thailand. It can be used in further research on the new concept of supply chain quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]