Identification and Analysis of Readiness Factors for Quality 4.0 Implementation: A Case of Serbia

Abstract

Research Question: What are the key factors influencing company readiness for implementing Quality 4.0, and how are these factors interrelated in ISO 9001:2015-certified companies in Serbia? Motivation: Although Quality 4.0 promises improvements in efficiency, decision-making, and customer value, empirical evidence on organisational readiness in developing and transition economies, including the Western Balkans, is still limited. Understanding readiness in this context is important for planning realistic implementation strategies. Idea: The study identifies and analyses readiness factors for Quality 4.0, examines their relationships, and proposes a model for assessing company readiness that combines factor-based and overall assessments across people, technology, and process dimensions. Data: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among employees of ISO 9001:2015-certified companies in Serbia. The questionnaire was sent to more than 1,500 companies using a list-based email frame derived from public registers, resulting in 184 valid responses (an estimated response rate of around 12%). The instrument included general questions, subjective readiness ratings, and 65 items grouped into 13 readiness factors. Tools: Descriptive statistics were used to describe readiness levels. Reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha test. Pearson correlation analysis examined relationships between the factors and overall readiness, while t-tests and one-way ANOVA tested differences in readiness perceptions across respondent and company characteristics. Findings: Objective readiness was assessed as medium (overall mean 3.4 on a five-point scale), while subjective readiness was somewhat lower (mean 3.0). Top management support had the highest readiness score (M = 4.05), while integration of processes and systems (M = 2.31) and use of modern technology (M = 2.85) had the lowest scores. All readiness factors were positively and significantly correlated with overall readiness at the 1% level; use of modern technology showed the strongest correlation (r = .623), and customer focus the weakest (r = .303). Contribution: The study offers an empirically tested model for assessing Quality 4.0 readiness in a developing economy, combining people, technology, and process factors in a single framework. The results provide guidance for managers and policymakers in prioritising actions for Quality 4.0 implementation and form a basis for comparative and longitudinal research on Quality 4.0 readiness.