Leadership for Quality 4.0 Improvement, Learning, and Innovation

Abstract In modern business, Industry 4.0 has brought in a technological transformation in which digital technologies provide improving quality in many aspects. Therefore, this research aims to explore the influence of leadership on quality achievements within Industry 4.0, connoting Quality 4.0. Accordingly, this research observes the mutual relations among all QMS elements encompassed in ISO 9004:2018 in the context of Quality 4.0. The developed research model consists of one independent variable: Leadership; and five dependent variables: Context and Identity; Resource Management; Process Management; Performance Management; Improvement, Learning, and Innovation. The survey is carried out through a questionnaire distributed among 345 companies of different types, ages, sizes, and industries. Gathered data are analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to perceive relationships between the variables. Findings indicate a direct positive influence among all observed variables, except the influence of Process Management on Improvement, Learning, and Innovation as Quality 4.0 achievements. The findings could have significant implications on leaders’ knowledge on investigating a roadmap to implement the well-based QMS to achieve sustainable results in Quality 4.0 improvement, learning, and innovation.