Examining the impact of design for environment and the mediating effect of quality management innovation on firm performance

This paper extends research on the relationship between quality management and sustainable operations initiatives. A functional quality system is widely regarded as a prerequisite for effective environmental management, but research on the interplay of specific quality management and sustainability techniques is scarce. This paper examines the relationships of design for environment (DFE) and quality management innovation (QMI) to environmental and economic performance. Quality management innovation is defined as those elements of TQM that specifically support or enhance innovation in products and processes. We examine these relationships with survey data from 492 manufacturing practitioners across a variety of industries. The results suggest a significant positive relationship between DFE and environmental performance, and find that this effect is significantly and positively mediated by quality management innovation. This study contributes to quality and sustainability literature while offering useful insight to practitioners.