The Role of Accreditation on the Relationship between Quality Management Practices and Organizational Performance: A Study of SMEs Food Processing Industry

Complying with the quality assurance system for businesses and products is important in today s challenging markets. Accreditations or certifications obtained by organizations indirectly prove that the implementation of the quality assurance system in an organization has been achieved. In fact, quality assurance is an important element in a food processing industry to prove that the food product is manufactured as a wholesome product that is clean and safe for consumption. To address the research gaps, this study examines the relationship between the critical success factor (CSF) of quality management practices and the performance of SMEs in food processing industry in Malaysia. In addition, this study also aims to examine the impact of accreditation on the relationship of the quality management practices and organizational performance. Structural Equation Modelling is used for analyzing this relationship. The findings show that all CSFs of quality management practices influence the organizational performance of the SMEs in the food processing industry in Malaysia. However, accreditation has no effect on the relationship.