Title: Interplay of TQM culture on product innovation in the light of a firm's internal capabilities

Authors: T. Praveen Kumar

Addresses: Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: Total quality management (TQM) has often been underrepresented in academic research, frequently overshadowed by other management innovation tools despite its strategic relevance. This study examines how TQM practices contribute to the development of firm-specific resources that support innovation, grounded in the resource-based view (RBV). The research explores the relationships between TQM culture, product innovation, and process improvement capability in the Indian textile industry. In the first phase, a conceptual model is developed and empirically tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on 320 responses from manufacturing firms. In the second phase, machine learning techniques are employed to test the robustness and predictive validity of the model. The results confirm positive relationships among TQM culture, product innovation, and process improvement capability. The findings indicate that effective TQM investment and resource management foster innovation-driven capabilities and sustainable competitive advantage. This integration strengthens empirical understanding of TQM's role in innovation.

Keywords: TQM culture; product innovation; process improvement capability; PLS-SEM; machine learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQET.2026.154320

International Journal of Quality Engineering and Technology, 2026 Vol.11 No.2, pp.199 - 224

Received: 08 Oct 2025
Accepted: 11 Dec 2025
Published online: 22 Jun 2026 *

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