International Journal for Quality Research

10

Authors: Gapyr Madaminov, Raykhan Madaminova, Asylkan Nazhimidinova, Akylai Narkeeva

The goal of this paper is to determine the impact of quality of education on socioeconomic development of the Kyrgyz Republic in a digital economy and to identify the prospects for enhancing this role in order to assist in the implementation of the Digital Transformation Concept "Digital Kyrgyzstan 2019-2023" and the Digital Agenda of the EEU for 2016-2019-2025. The methodology of regression analysis and forecasting based on the theory of probability using the Monte Carlo method was used to prove that the globalization of education in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2013-2019 hampered the social and economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic, and it is very likely that it will slow down the innovative development and economic growth of this country in 2020. This problem stems from the fact that the digital economy of the Kyrgyz Republic is in a formative stage thus far, and the significance of quality of education in it is contradictory. On the one hand, there is a growing demand for the teaching of digital competencies among the emerging information society, which cannot be met due to the retaining of traditional educational programs. On the other hand, the regulatory framework for digital business is still under development, which reduces the demand for training of digital personnel. In order to address the identified problem, it is recommended to develop an institutional environment and to promote business digitalization in the Kyrgyz Republic. This will make it possible to create a consistent demand for training of digital personnel from society, the State and business, and to promote the key role of quality of education in the digital economy of the Kyrgyz Republic.

12

Authors: Andrzej Pacana, Dominika Siwiec

Achieving the expectation quality products level is possible among others, by using adequate management techniques, which allow or identify incompatibilities, its sources, and above all, the reasons for its occurrence and ways of its elimination. Applying in this aim singe technique is common, but it was turned out that a lack is integrated connection between selected techniques. The purpose of the study is to propose a technique consisting of cyclical use: brainstorming (BM), relationship diagram, cause and effect diagram, multiple voting, and the AHP method.The technique was verified in the nondestructive testing process. The analysis was performed for often occurring incompatibilities in mechanical sealers for 410 steel. The identified incompatibilities of the analyzed mechanical sealers were the most frequent porosity, which was identified by fluorescent method (FPI). The effectiveness of the proposed technique was shown. The main advantage of its use was to improve the process of decision-making referred to incompatibility causes. It is possible to effectively use this method to analyze another type of incompatibility and products in production and service enterprises.

14

Authors: Ana Lígia Gil Espuny, Maximilian Espuny, Ana Carolina Costa, José Salvador da Motta Reis, Nilo Antonio de Souza Sampaio, Luís César Ferreira Motta Barbosa, Gilberto Santos, Otávio José de Oliveira

Concerns about food quality and safety have grown as cases of disease and food-related scandals increase. To mitigate this problem, organic products have been a solution, as their certification is provided through processes that are less harmful to the environment and consumer health. To understand the main motivations of consumers of organic products, the objective of this study is to demonstrate whether the statistical values of the predictor variables (health concern, signaling trust, and attitude) confirm their purchase intention (dependent variable). To carry out this research, the survey method was used, applying a questionnaire with open and closed questions to 288 respondents, supporting the elaboration of a structural model based on four hypotheses, which were confirmed through statistical calculations. As for the contribution, this work supports the alignment of expectations and preferences of the members of the production chain of organic products.

14

Authors: Nikolina Žajdela Hrustek, Damira Keček, Antonio Petek

Markov chain is a widely used method for future trends forecasting. The aim of this paper is to present the development and functionality of a software application for solving the problem of sales and number of customers forecasting by using the Markov chain method. On a concrete company whose main activity is the distribution and sale of expensive cosmetic products, solutions to the forecasting problem and the functionality of the developed software application are presented. Based on the information on sales of certain products or the number of customers in the observed market, it is possible to devise adequate business strategies to increase its profitability and competitiveness in the market, which greatly facilitates the use of such software application.

14

Authors: Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mekhlafi, Mahdy Salah Eddin Othman

This study aimed at determining the role of activity-based costing system for cost control in Saudi manufacturing firms that produce "Raw Materials". The data was collected from 154 staff members with a job title of general managers, assistant managers, financial managers, and accountants working at Saudi manufacturing Firms that produce "Raw Materials" and listed in Saudi Stock Exchange and use ABC system at the end of July 2021 using a questionnaire that was developed and distributed to them. This study revealed that the ABC system; achieves production efficiency, increases the effectiveness of control over administrative and financial costs, and helps managers make cost and price decisions. The Researchers recommended that other Saudi manufacturing firms adopt the ABC system to reduce the cost of their products, greater production efficiency, and raise profitability.

16

Authors: Małgorzata Z. Wiśniewska, Eugenia Czernyszewicz, Tomasz Grybek

This paper investigates the phenomenon of food safety culture (FSC) from the perspective of SARS-CoV-2-related hazards. The importance of FSC in the context of organizational culture, and its role in strengthening the quality and food safety management system were explained. The aim of the article is to propose the tool to measure and assess the level FSC concerning the risk connected with SARS-CoV-2 contamination. The SARS-CoV-2-based FSC assessment tool have been developed and the reliability of this tools have been confirmed. It was possible to identify the overall and the partial FSC levels in seafood company and to show which variables most significantly affect the employees behavior, and beliefs against food safety, and based on that areas for further improvement. The tool propsed by us may be applied by various food entities, especially those interested in meeting the mandatory requirements contained in the current EU food law.

18

Authors: Agnieszka Cholewa-Wójcik, Marek Ćwiklicki, Agnieszka Kawecka, Magdalena Wojnarowska

Food and beverages packaging design are one of the factors affecting product performance on the market and in the supply chain. Identifying the most important, expected packaging characteristics for each member of the supply chain aims to integrate product aspects, packaging and logistics requirements, as well as improve the post-consumer end-of-use of packaging. The paper aims to identify an expected group of packaging features, which address joint priorities of the supply chain participants and will be regarded as benchmarks for setting food packaging design goals. Conducted qualitative research - interviews with experts, representatives of food and beverages international supply chain participants and analysis with the use of the MFA method. Common, important groups of features for all participants in the supply chain include: safety, material, ergonomics and aesthetics of the packaging. Identifying the expectations of the supply chain entities and indicating the priority properties of packaging is the basis for the cooperative packaging design process.

18

Authors: Sergey K. Volkov, Irina A. Morozova, Elena A. Gladkaya, Olga E. Akimova, Irina M. Kuzlaeva

The article provides a comprehensive possibility analysis of implementing the "smart city" concept in Russia and substantiates the pivotal role of the quality of public administration in this process. The purpose of this research is to assess the readiness of Russian regions to use "smart" technologies to solve the socio-economic problems of spatial development in the context of the "smart city" concept from the perspective of the quality of public administration. The research methodology includes neo-institutional and systematic approaches, as well as the analysis of the statistics and social research data. The research equally considers the theoretical and applied aspects of the presented article. The article reveals that the central role for successful implementation of the concept is played by the human capital and society's readiness to change, the infrastructure base, sustainable interaction of the state structures, the scientific and technical institutions, and entrepreneurship. Their successful management determines the quality of public administration. The contribution of the paper to academic literature consists in the substantiation of the pivotal role of a qualitative factor - the quality of public administration - in the factor system of creation and development of smart cities.

18

Authors: Michela Poli, Davide Cornolti, Giorgio Iervasi, Silvia Pardini, Mauro Quaglierini, Alessandro Zega, Debora Petroni

The aim of this paper is to provide some indications for carrying out the risk assessment for the activation of a production line of a radiopharmaceutical containing a positrons emitting radionuclide. The risk analysis was performed by following the ICH Q10 guideline and ISO 9001:2015 standards and by using the risk-based thinking approach applied to the entire production cycle. The overall analysis has shown that hard and soft skills of the expert group are key factors of success both in technical and radiopharmaceuticals-related preparations as well as in risk management methodologies.

22

Authors: Agata Niemczyk, Renata Seweryn, Mariusz Łapczyński, Zofia Gródek-Szostak

The aim of the article is to show the usability of mobile apps in the process of satisfying Generation Z's tourist needs (pre-travel, during-travel, post-travel). Theoretical part includes characteristics of Generation Z and the place of modern technologies in satisfying tourist needs, especially mobile apps' functions and advantages. Empirical part presents survey results (N=669) which positively verified main hypothesis: The motive and length of the trip, and the ways in which the Zs' travel needs are met, significantly determine the choices of mobile apps used at each stage of the trip. They prove a leisure trip is more often a positive determinant of pre-travel mobile apps use than a cognitive trip, while during travel the opposite situation is observed, at post-travel stage a significant dependence of mobile app use on the motive of the trip concerns only the negative influence of leisure trips on the use of communication/entertainment-socializing apps.