Mapping the intellectual core of quality in supply chains: A bibliometric analysis of total quality management and supply chain management

Amidst rivalry and intricate value networks the relationship between Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Total Quality Management (TQM) has emerged as a fundamental element of contemporary operational strategies and is essential for securing long-term competitive benefits. This bibliometric analysis methodically charts the framework and research directions within this crucial overlap. Drawing on a collection of 371 publications from the Scopus database, this study offers an in-depth summary of the discipline's progression from 1994, to 2025. The study indicates a developed research area that has seen a significant rise in scholarly attention with the number of publications increasing more than threefold since 2017. Major contributions are regionally clustered with the USA, India and China standing out as the leading contributors. A thematic keyword map uncovers the fields framework: 'Total Quality Management' and 'Supply Chain Management' serve as central driving themes propelling the research. These are underpinned by fundamental themes, like 'sustainability'. The analysis also indicates an evolution in terminology, with older concepts like 'just in time' now appearing as declining themes, superseded by more integrated frameworks. This survey serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners by providing a data-driven landscape of the field's foundational pillars, dominant topics, and future research trajectories.