This paper seeks to examine the relationship between determinants of blood transfusion sustainability (BTS) that is master production scheduling (MPS) and total quality management (TQM) of Uganda. The study was founded on four objectives. The study looked at the direct relationship between MPS and the BTS, direct relationship between MPS and TQM, direct relationship between TQM and BTS. It also assessed how TQM mediated the direct relationship between MPS and BTS. The study used a quantitative method. A survey questionnaire was administered to collect data from 367 staff of regional blood banks and government university teaching hospital blood banks; and 213 were found to be usable. The main analysis was done using structural equation modeling. The study found that MPS had a positive and significant relationship with the BTS. The study found that the relationship between MPS and TQM was positive and significant. The study also found that the relationship between TQM and BTS was positive and significant. The study concluded that the effect of MPS on BTS was not mediated by TQM. It was recommended that blood banks seeking to achieve transfusion sustainability must invest in understanding the sector in which they operate. This includes understanding the blood demand requirement, customer focus, people involvement and timely delivery. The various stakeholders in the blood supply chain i.e. blood banks, hospital blood banks, funding agents, ministry of health, must also integrate to enhance the transfusion sustainability. Blood banks performance measures essentially timely delivery was very critical for saving lives of patients in need of blood. The study has provided a new conceptual framework that investigates the TQM mediating effect on the relationship of MPS and BTS, and thus can serve as an incentive for more research to be conducted in this regard in blood banks of different developing countries. The authors also proposed identifying the effect of other TQM factors such as process management, system management, supplier relationship and top management on BTS.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships of master production scheduling (MPS), total quality management (TQM), blood production (BP) and blood transfusion sustainability in the blood bank sector of Uganda. This study considers MPS as an independent variable and examines its relationship with BTS through TQM and BP. Based on the dynamic capability theory, this study concurrently incorporates and considers TQM and BP as independent and serial mediators. Data was collected from 213 blood bank respondents using a self-administered questionnaire. Random simple sampling was used to draw the sample. SEM approach was used in the study to assess the model. The major findings are positive total effect relationship between MPS and BTS; BP was found to be an independent mediator, TQM was found not to be an independent mediator, and TQM and BP mediated the MPS and BTS relationship serially. The findings suggest that MPS is related to BTS through a serial mediation model with two mediators. Therefore, blood banks in Uganda need to pay attention to develop and maintain a better MPS program so that positive perceptions of blood transfusion can be attained. Future research should investigate the mediating effect of other TQM and BP dimensions in the link between MPS and BTS in other countries.