Business Excellence Models (BEMs) are used by organisations to assess and improve their work practices and paformance. The authors' research identified that there are currently 94 national QuaIitylBnsiness Excellence (BE) Awards used in 83 counmes. While the use of BEMs is widespread, it was identified that many organisations wanted guidance in terms of which improvement initiatives to implement to assist them on their BE journey. This paper discusses how the BEM can be used as an overarching framework for managing and/or aligning multiple improvement initiatives within the organisation. A new model is developed showing some of the main improvement initiatives that can be adopted towards achieving BE, which are arranged according to the common enahling criteria of BEMs and levels of BE maturity. This proposed model can be used as a pathway/mddmap to BE. In developing this model, a Literature review, a document review and several semi-sbuchlred interviews were conducted. Sixteen quality and BE experts were interviewed in New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

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PurposeThe paper aims to describe a recently completed research project on the use of statistical quality control (SQC) methods in the context of food and drinks manufacturing. It discusses issues surrounding the successful uptake of such methods, including organisational motivation, possible application, costs and benefits, critical success factors and the central importance of prerequisite statistical thinking (ST).Design/methodology/approachA three stage, mixed methods approach was adopted, incorporating surveys augmented by case studies and key informant interviews with industry managers and providers of relevant industry training. All data were combined to produce the final model.FindingsThe paper finds that SQC methods are of relevance in the industry, providing the process is appropriate and management have a basic awareness of the fundamentals of ST. Certain organisational and external factors were found to progressively reduce the effectiveness with which such methods are introduced and sustained. The paper ends with discussion of an original model, developed from the research, which illustrates the “filters” that tend to reduce the effectiveness with which methods are used in the industry, with a discussion of how each can be overcome.Research limitations/implicationsThe research in this paper is focused on the European food manufacturing and legislative context, and predominantly UK. Low survey response rates numbers necessitated a nonparametric approach to survey analysis.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the filters model is of generic applicability and interest to current and future managers, and to other researchers in this area.Originality/valueThe paper addresses the “how to” of SQC, and examines an industry where there is not yet widespread literature on the benefits of SQC methods. It presents an original model of the barriers to effective use of statistical methods within a process knowledge and improvement cycle.

Statistical process control (SPC) is a common feature of quality control in most high volume manufacturing processes. In the food industry, while there is no explicit compulsion for organisations to make use of SPC techniques, their usage can accrue the same benefits as in other industry sectors. Discusses the potential for application of SPC within the industry, and presents the results of a nationwide survey of 200 food processing companies, indicating relatively low levels of SPC usage. Three case studies are presented, which outline three typical approaches to SPC in the food sector, e.g. those organisations which make effective use of SPC in some form; those that do not perceive a need for it; and those that recognise its potential, but are unable to implement it effectively, owing to a lack of in‐house expertise or advisory literature. Suggests ways in which the use of SPC might be promoted and encouraged within the industry.

2011),"Empirical analysis of the Baldrige Criteria as both an organisational performance measure and a theoretical model", Measuring Business Excellence, Vol. 15 Iss 1 pp. 20-33 http://dx.If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to empirically assess the validity of Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence (CPE) for New Zealand organisations and to identify methodological gaps. Design/methodology/approach -By means of data collected from a sample of 91 New Zealand organisations, through a self-assessment instrument (as a proxy for the CPE) a structural equation model was studied using the partial least squares method. The measurement validity of the CPE as well as the implied causal relationships in the CPE framework was tested. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to gain additional insights. Findings -The measurement validity of the CPE was established; of the 13 implied causal relationships in the CPE framework, 11 were statistically significant, which compared favourably with past studies. The results endorse some salient features of quality management: reliance on measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; the involvement of people; and the role of leadership in setting direction. Research limitations/implications -As the study was based on a small sample, this model needs to be tested with other data sets. The study revealed the need to meta-analyse past measurement and structural models as well as measurement instruments. Practical implications -The study endorsed the reliability and validity of a well designed, well administered, self-assessment instrument. Originality/value -As the first New Zealand CPE validity study, the paper introduces the partial least squares method and shows some of its relevant versatile features, introducing some measurement perspectives not conceptualised before in CPE validation studies.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the theoretical interface between statistical thinking, the statistical method of the control chart, and contemporary theories of organisational learning in regard to processes and their improvement. Design/methodology/approach -Theoretical discussion results in an integrated model showing how statistical thinking and methods relate to organisational learning. This is supported by findings from a food industry research project following a design of: exploration (stage 1); theory development (stage 2); and theory testing/refinement (stage 3) incorporating surveys, case studies and key informant interviews. Findings -Empirical evidence shows that statistical techniques such as the control chart can be of benefit to organisations for creating process improvement and organisational learning, providing the charts are utilised to actively convert the data they contain into information and knowledge about the process. Four distinct categories of use of control charts were observed which impacted on the effectiveness with which the charts were able to achieve this. Research limitations/implications -The findings have come from a study conducted only on the food industry. The implications are generalisable, however, to the wider industry context. Practical implications -Findings illustrate problems with control chart application and the vital role of statistical thinking in ensuring that maximum benefit is derived from the charts. We argue that statistical thinking is a fundamental prerequisite to achieving effective double loop learning when using control charts as a basis for process monitoring and improvement Originality/value -Statistical thinking and knowledge management are both growing areas of interest within the quality management and process improvement literature. The paper examines their interrelationship.

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