Implementation of Environmental and Quality Management System: A Case from Indian Ayurveda Industry Menachery Assissi1, George Giselle2, Kumar Satheesh3 1Professor, Loyola Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Dist., T. N, India 2Research Scholar, BSMED, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, T. N., India 3Associate Professor, Wisdom School of Management, Coimbatore, Pollachi, T.N., India Online published on 20 April, 2017. Abstract The purpose of this work is to analyze the forces that prompted an Ayurveda manufacturing organisation to implement and maintain environmental management system (EMS/ISO 14001) and Quality management system (QMS/ISO 9001). Moreover the study also throws light on the effectiveness of implementation of both the systems. The work also aims to describe how and why environmental issues were integrated to process effectiveness and financial performance. The paper utilizes both qualitative and quantitative approaches for the study. For the qualitative research, the top management and functional heads including Management Representative for implementing both the systems are selected as interpretive community. Researchers participated in all the interviews. The interviews were recorded by tape and later transcribed to paper. The reasons for implementation are further categorized by hearing, re-reading, indexing and generating themes by using thematic analysis. Quantitative dataregarding ‘Key Performance Indicators’ were collected from the company's balance sheet regarding the financial performance, before and after implementing both the management systems. The forces driving the implementation of EMSand QMS were rather ‘out-side-in’ in nature. The initial intend behind implementing EMSand QMS was to gain corporate image, corporate social responsibility, good will, and to use the International certification as a publicity tool. Over a period of five years the forces turned to internal ones when the relationship between improving quality and environmental performance and process effectiveness was recognized by the top management. Later both the systems were integrated, that resulted in sustainable but incremental financial and environmental improvements. The results of the study can be generalized as more contextual than statistical or constructive. This work contributes to the empirical research on Environmental Management and Quality Management systems by integrating both perspectives in an emerging market economy like India. Top Keywords Ayurveda, Environmental Management System, External Forces, Internal Forces, Quality Management System. Top |