Managing quality for environmental excellence: Strategies, outcomes, and challenges in Brazilian companies

Abstract

First paragraph: This article highlights a study that looked at how companies located in Brazil manage their quality programs to achieve environmental excellence. The study focused on four business organizations that have achieved certification to ISO 14001, an international environmental management standard. The results of the study show that contributions from quality management are fundamental to achieving environmental excellence. Reaching a high level of environmental performance is only possible, however, if the company’s culture views the environment as an organizational value.  About This Article: This article begins with some brief background on the growth of environmental management among companies in Brazil. It continues with a review of concepts relating to quality management and environmental management, along with discussion of how these two themes can be integrated.  The discussion then moves on to a study involving four market-leading companies in Brazil. It summarizes findings regarding how these companies have used their quality management systems to achieve environmental excellence, thus creating organizational competitive advantage. Of particular note is the significant role that quality management departments have played in environmental management at all four companies studied.