Quality management practices and product consistency at Crown Beverages Ltd

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between quality management practices and product consistency at Crown Beverages Ltd. The objectives were to assess the extent to which quality planning, quality control, and quality assurance influence the uniformity and reliability of products in the organization. A descriptive and inferential research design was employed, with data collected from 199 respondents across top management, senior managers, and operational staff. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on perceptions and practices regarding quality management, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that respondents generally agreed that quality management practices were implemented, with quality planning, quality control, and quality assurance being moderately to strongly practiced. Quality control and quality assurance were identified as the strongest contributors to maintaining consistent product quality, while employee involvement and resource allocation in quality planning were noted as areas requiring improvement. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive and significant relationships between all quality management components and product consistency (p < 0.01). Multiple regression results showed that quality control (β = 0.476, p < 0.001) and quality assurance (β = 0.328, p < 0.001) significantly predicted product consistency, whereas quality planning had a minimal and non-significant effect (β = 0.005, p = 0.951). Collectively, the model explained 59.5% of the variation in product consistency, highlighting the critical role of operational monitoring, adherence to standards, and systematic quality assurance practices in ensuring uniform product quality at Crown Beverages Ltd. The study concludes that enhancing quality control and assurance mechanisms is essential for sustaining high product standards, reducing defects, and maintaining customer satisfaction. It is recommended that Crown Beverages Ltd. strengthen employee training, allocate adequate resources for quality planning, and continuously monitor quality assurance processes to further improve product consistency and operational efficiency.