Quality Management Practices in Manufacturing Enterprises in the Context of Their Performance

This research paper examines the issue of quality management practices (QMPs) as a supporting tool for managing and improving the performance and competitiveness of enterprises. The aim of the paper is to present the interconnection of the practical use of QMPs concerning the performance in the Slovak manufacturing enterprises. One of the main causal factors that may influence the different utilization of QMPs is the capital structure of the surveyed enterprises. The consequence factor is the achieved performance, parameterized in this research through Return on Sales. During the period 2020 to 2021, 364 manufacturing enterprises were interviewed through a questionnaire. In order to keep the population, the industrial structure stratified sampling method was applied and the sample representativeness was assessed by using the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Pearson’s chi-square test, interval estimates of proportions, and analysis of contingency were implemented to test the stated research hypotheses. The results of performed analyses revealed the existence of significant relations among capital structure, the scale of the use of QMPs and performance measured by Return on Sales. The survey results also point to differences in the practical use of quality management within the analysed industries. The difference factor is the size of the enterprise, the industry itself, and partly also the technology and performance of the industry given by the added value. At the same time, space for the implementation of selected approaches and concepts related to quality management in manufacturing enterprises that have the potential for more effective management has been identified to increase competitiveness.