Investigating Environmental Management and Quality Management Issues in the Libyan Food Industry

Aims: Investigates environmental and quality management issues in the Libyan food industry (LFI). In order to achieve a better level of environmental and quality management to develop modern managerial techniques. In particular, this investigation will help LFI to increase the success of environmental protection (i.e., the reduction in waste, pollution prevention, and the recycling of materials).

Study Design: The questionnaire was conducted with 62 managers at three levels (top, middle, and low) and 518 employees from three companies in LFI.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Libya, the fieldwork was conducted in 2013.

Methodology: Adopting existing measures in environmental management systems and total quality management systems revealed in the literature and developing new ones specifically for this research. Also, a set of items was produced to explore issues relating to the cost of quality process, statistical process control, quality technique and information system. In order to satisfy the requirements of the statistical test, all questions were based on Likert 5-point scale (5 is the best, while 1 is the lowest).

Results: The results revealed that the LFI do not make sufficient efforts to improve their environmental performance and quality. Further, it is found that LFI is still in a quite low level of achievement for EM. Low compliance with environmental and quality standards was also demonstrated. It is concluded that such results can be ascribed to that the majority of managers in the LFI have a remarkable lack of motivations to environmental and quality management approach.

Conclusion: This study contributes to identifying the key issues of environmental and quality management implementation in the LFI. This paper serves as a point of departure for future research to establish a framework model for total quality environmental management (TQEM) implementation in the Libyan context.