Strategic Quality Management System and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Aviation Companies
Keywords:
Aviation Safety, Strategic Quality Management System, Sustainable Competitive AdvantageAbstract
This study examined the influence of Strategic Quality Management Systems (SQMS) on Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) in Kenya’s aviation industry. Anchored on Stakeholder and Total Quality Management theories, the study adopted a positivist philosophy and a mixed- methods approach research design. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from 360 managerial staff across all 60 Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)-licensed aviation firms. Regression analysis revealed that SQMS in terms of quality planning, safety assurance, continuous improvement, corrective and preventive action systems, and quality audits is a strong predictor of sustainable comparative advantage in terms of organizational efficiency, customer trust, operational reliability, and market positioning in the aviation companies accounting for 41.3% of the variance (R² = 0.413, p < 0.001) in. This was significantly influenced. Qualitative results supplemented these findings by showing that firms with well-integrated quality systems exhibited stronger safety culture, lower operational risk, and improved stakeholder confidence. The study concluded that SQMS is an operational tool and a strategic asset that enhances competitive differentiation in a highly regulated aviation environment. Enhancing quality assurance mechanisms through more frequent audits, real-time compliance tracking, and automated monitoring tools, investment in advanced safety assurance frameworks as well as continuous improvement of SMS by integrating industry best practices, leveraging emerging technologies, and fostering a culture of safety accountability among employees are recommended.
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