Pavol Gejdoš

Research background: Quality management represents a key strategic approach to improving the performance and competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises. Although numerous studies confirm the positive effects of quality management systems and practices on organisational performance, existing research predominantly focuses on selected tools or individual performance indicators, such as productivity, efficiency, or innovation. Considerably less attention has been devoted to examining the comprehensive use of quality management methods and tools (MTQM) in relation to profitability, particularly with regard to sectoral differences across manufacturing industries. Purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the application of quality management methods and tools on the profitability of manufacturing enterprises and to identify sectoral differences in their use across industries classified under SK NACE Section C. Methods: The study adopts a quantitative research approach based on a questionnaire survey supplemented by structured interviews conducted in 2024–2025. The research sample consisted of 405 manufacturing enterprises operating in Slovakia, exceeding the minimum required sample size of 360 determined using the Yamane formula. The MTQM variable was operationalised as the number of quality management methods and tools applied by an enterprise, while profitability was measured using return on sales (ROS), categorised into four groups. To verify the representativeness of the sample and test relationships between variables, the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test and the Chi-square test of independence were applied. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATISTICA 12 at a significance level of α = 0.05. Findings & Value added: The results confirm statistically significant differences in the extent of MTQM utilisation across manufacturing industries (χ² = 66.98; p = 0.001), indicating that sectoral characteristics, such as technological complexity and regulatory requirements, influence the adoption of quality management practices. Furthermore, a statistically significant association was identified between the extent of MTQM utilisation and enterprise profitability (χ² = 76.84; p = 0.001), with enterprises applying a broader range of quality management methods and tools being more likely to achieve higher levels of profitability as measured by ROS. The findings provide empirical evidence from the Slovak manufacturing sector and contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating a relationship between the comprehensive application of MTQM and enterprise profitability.

In today’s competitive business environment, effectively analyzing, evaluating, and resolving product quality problems is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction, reducing financial losses, and preserving a company’s reputation. This study prioritizes internal and external quality problems in paperboard packaging using selected quality management tools. Product quality problems are categorized based on their frequency of occurrence and financial losses. Three quality management tools are used: the Pareto-Lorenz diagram, the matrix data analysis diagram, and the box plot. The Pareto-Lorenz diagram identified the key quality problems that generate the highest number of events and the greatest financial losses, consistent with the 80/20 rule. The matrix data analysis diagram divided the quality problems into four groups based on their combined impact, indicating critical problems for both categories. The box plot identified outliers and extremes, revealing quality problems with significantly higher frequency and financial impact than others. All quality tools used identified the overprint complaint with code 403 as critical. The results highlight the effectiveness of the quality management tools used in prioritizing product quality problems.

The application of quality management methods and tools is an important prerequisite for the success and performance increase of manufacturing enterprises. The paper deals with the application of methods and tools of quality management (MTQM) in manufacturing enterprises. The paper aims to analyze whether there is a relationship between the application of MTQM and the size of enterprises, the use of MTQM, and the performance of enterprises measured through the achieved profit. It also analyzes the impact of MTQM on the agility of manufacturing enterprises measured through the decrease in sales expressed in revenues during the pandemic period. The paper presents the results of the research which was conducted between 2020–2022. Several statistical tools such as the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and contingency analysis were used to evaluate the different analyses as well as the representativeness of the sample. Based on the results, it can be concluded that there are differences in the use of MTQM and the size of the enterprise as well as the performance of the enterprises. At the same time, the hypothesis that enterprises using a wider range of quality management methods and tools have a higher potential to adapt to unexpected market changes was also confirmed.

Today's manufacturing industry, especially in the context of the metals industry, is constantly evolving towards ever more advanced technologies and efficient production practices. In this context, machinery modernization is becoming a key ele...

The theory and examples from practice confirm that theuse of controlling in economic practice differs significantly in the context of understanding its essence. The ambiguity of the definition of controlling, two different thought concepts, the diversity of tools and approaches, but also other barriers prevent its use to a greater extent than this managerial approach would deserve. The current research is based on the understanding of the essence of controlling in German-speaking countries and is oriented towards a coordinated predictive management approach based on precise cost reports. The research question was aimed at identifying current use and barriers of controlling in manufacturing enterprises in relation to the understanding of its essence and impact of performance through a questionnaire survey and structured interviews with managers from 2021 to 2022. A population of 2,504 enterprises was addressed by means of stratified sampling. The chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to test how well the characteristics of the research sample fit the final population. A total of 352 manufacturing enterprises formed the resulting sample representative – enterprise size and type of industry designated according to the European standard industry classification system. Methods of contingency analysis and interval estimates of the population proportion were used to test the stated hypotheses. The testing confirmed a dependence between the practical use of a broader scale of controlling tools and the performance of enterprises measured by the return on sales (ROS) indicator, as well as the difference in the perception of barriers to the implementation of controlling depending on the size of enterprises. Controlling with the assistance of software support of the management information system, with a detailed implementation process and precisely defined competencies of employees and controllable KPI, creates the potential to increase the complexity of management and performance of enterprises as well as the elimination of potential risks.

This research paper examines the issue of quality management practices (QMPs) as a supporting tool for managing and improving the performance and competitiveness of enterprises. The aim of the paper is to present the interconnection of the practical use of QMPs concerning the performance in the Slovak manufacturing enterprises. One of the main causal factors that may influence the different utilization of QMPs is the capital structure of the surveyed enterprises. The consequence factor is the achieved performance, parameterized in this research through Return on Sales. During the period 2020 to 2021, 364 manufacturing enterprises were interviewed through a questionnaire. In order to keep the population, the industrial structure stratified sampling method was applied and the sample representativeness was assessed by using the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Pearson’s chi-square test, interval estimates of proportions, and analysis of contingency were implemented to test the stated research hypotheses. The results of performed analyses revealed the existence of significant relations among capital structure, the scale of the use of QMPs and performance measured by Return on Sales. The survey results also point to differences in the practical use of quality management within the analysed industries. The difference factor is the size of the enterprise, the industry itself, and partly also the technology and performance of the industry given by the added value. At the same time, space for the implementation of selected approaches and concepts related to quality management in manufacturing enterprises that have the potential for more effective management has been identified to increase competitiveness.

This paper deals with the issue of increasing the quality and sustainability of education at universities regarding the requirements of employers. Employers’ expectations of university graduates in terms of soft skills are analysed and outlined. The employers participating in this study answered a questionnaire survey focused on understanding university graduates’ soft skills. The collected results were subjected to the method of mathematical–statistical analysis by nonparametric testing of significance of the mean value difference. The significance of the difference for individual skills was confirmed, demonstrating that the surveyed enterprises required and anticipated a level of soft skills development on the part of recent graduates that was insufficient. This finding implies the necessity of improving university education to match the expected and real state of soft skill mastery.

The aim of the article is to present the results of a case study focused on the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology in order to improve the quality and increase the efficiency of furniture production processes. Positive results of implementation after the implementation of corrective measures were achieved in the values of process capability coefficients, reduction of nonconformities and subsequent reduction of DPMO, increase of the values of the level of efficiency and sigma of the critical process.In the processing of the results, classical methods of research work were used such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, descriptive statistics, coefficients Cp a Cpk, DPMO, level of efficienty and sigma,and also graphic methods.

The aim of the paper is to point out the principles of process management and selected quality management tools, which are aimed at improving the processes of the wood processing industries of the Slovak Republic. The knowledge from these areas is based on the analysis of the theoretical origins from domestic and foreign sources and supported by the results of the research carried out in the first half of the year 2017. In the processing of the results, classical methods of research work were used such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, descriptive statistics, contingency tables, chi-quadrat test and graphic depiction. Based on the analysis of the research results, there was a slight dependence between the process optimization levels in the timber industry and other process improvement methods such as statistical process control methods and graphical analysis and problem solving tools.