Integrating quality 5.0 approaches for the future of quality management

Purpose The objective of this study was to examine whether and to what extent Quality 5.0 approaches, with an emphasis in the study on the combination of advanced technologies, humanistic principles of leadership and sustainability, would influence key organizational outcomes. Whereas Quality 4.0 primarily focused on the role of automation and digital tools, Quality 5.0 is concerned with ethical use of artificial intelligence, staff commitment and engagement, along with associated responsibility to the environment, thus operating in close alignment with the Industry 5.0 framework. This study investigated the effects of three Quality 5.0 enablers – technological factors (TF), human-centric and managerial factors (HCMF) and sustainability and customer experience factors (SCEF) – on four outcome constructs: quality and performance outcomes (QPO), customer-centric outcomes (CCO), business and financial impact (BFI) and sustainability and ethical impact (SEI). Design/methodology/approach The study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS to evaluate the relationships among Quality 5.0 variables. Data were collected through a structured survey administered across Indian organizations from diverse sectors, including manufacturing, services and education. Findings The results confirm that TF, HCMF and SCEF have a positive and significant influence on all four outcome variables (QPO, CCO, BFI and SEI). This demonstrates that the effective implementation of Quality 5.0 requires not just technological adoption but also strong leadership, employee engagement and sustainability-focused strategies. Research limitations/implications The results are contextually anchored in the Indian organization context and may impede the generalizability in other spaces; hence, the findings offer an empirical basis for practical application of Quality 5.0 initiatives for real-world quality management frameworks. The results suggest that technology in its own right is not sufficient and that the human and ethical dimensions play an essential role in quality transformation. Originality/value This study is among the first to propose and empirically validate an integrated Quality 5.0 framework. It contributes both theoretically and practically by linking digital, human-centric and sustainability drivers to multi-dimensional quality outcomes, offering organizations a strategic roadmap for responsible and future-ready quality management.