Analysis of Barriers in Implementing Quality Management Initiatives in MSME Label Printing Firms for Sustainable Performance Improvement

Quality is essential in today’s competitive market to ensure customers are happy; recent research shows that about 90% of customers think quality is just as important as price when purchasing. Total quality management (TQM) has been a boon to the economies of many countries. Different tools and methods are used in TQM to give customers the best quality. However, there are some challenges that manufacturing organizations face when implementing these tools. Much research has been done on MSME sector, so far as label manufacturers are concerned, there has yet to be any research on a national or international level. In this study, we found 66 barriers to programs to improve quality in the label printing industry. We have used fuzzy MICMAC analysis and total interpretive modeling (TISM) to make a structural model. Our research paper provides an easy-to-use methodology and critically analyses the biggest obstacles to the successful application of TQM in the flexographic printing industry. Our research identified ten issues with the implementation of TQM in this industry. The paper has identified the interdependencies of the above variables. The findings of this research will aid in future planning, particularly in E-commerce and the pharmaceutical industry, where proper label printing is crucial.