Title: Resource allocation for implementing strategic quality management strategies in pharmaceutical industry in India: a case study

Authors: Harjit Kaur; Sanjay Kaushik

Addresses: Dr. S.S. Bhatnagar Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India ' University Business School, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

Abstract: In the pharmaceutical industry, quality is an essential element for the success of the organisation. Over the last few years, the pharmaceutical industry has faced severe quality issues resulting in worldwide product recalls and drug shortages. Quality and management of quality is a key strategic issue in the pharmaceutical industry. Many pharmaceutical companies adopt the strategic management of quality through various quality strategies across the world. Alidrisi (2010) view quality management from the strategic perspective that allows the resources to form the core from which it operates known as strategic quality management. The present study assesses the allocation of resources is evaluated using an operation research technique called as analytic network process (ANP) considering the interactions within the resources as well as between resources, quality strategies and the ability of each strategy to enhance quality. The case study approach has been used for assessing the allocation of resources in two pharmaceutical companies that have valid quality certifications from various international regulatory authorities. The findings of the study suggest that various resources are not optimally allocated among various quality strategies, and human resources are considered to be the most critical resource for the implementation of selected quality strategies.

Keywords: strategic quality management; SQM; resources allocation; firm resources; analytic network process; ANP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2021.118390

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2021 Vol.34 No.2, pp.158 - 175

Received: 17 Nov 2019
Accepted: 08 Mar 2020
Published online: 25 Oct 2021 *

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