Items	China	UK	Comments
Emphasis on HRM	-	✓	HRM is considered important in the UK companies while China’s companies have not emphasised on this aspect for managing the quality of BDPs.
Investment in training of employees	✓	✓	The level of investment is more significant for the UK.
Use of advanced technology	✓	✓	The UK has more advanced technology.
Quality inspections	✓	✓	A higher number of inspections are carried out, and the process is more rigorous in the UK.
Traceability system	-	✓	UK dairy industry has developed a strong traceability system.
Information sharing	-	✓	In UK dairy companies, there is extensive information sharing among supply chain actors.
Animal management system	✓	✓	The animal management system in the UK is better planned.
Robotic feeding systems	✓	✓	Both countries are using these in a similar manner. However, small milk producers in China are unable to adopt such systems.
Internal rules and regulations for dairy farm management	✓	✓	The UK’s management system is more advanced.
Emphasis on source	✓	✓	Both have realised that source is vitally important.
The rigorous selection process for suppliers	-	✓	In the UK, suppliers are selected by quality certifications.
Regular inspections and audits on suppliers	-	✓	In the UK companies, inspections and audits for suppliers are organised on a regular basis.
Involvement of suppliers in quality management	-	✓	In the UK, suppliers are provided with the incentive of higher prices for their milk depending on its quality. Though not all companies from UK BDP industry can manage the suppliers, practices for their involvement are observed.
Inspections at each stage of production	✓	✓	Both industries use quality inspection tests conducted by their internal quality assurance/control/inspection departments.
Strict manufacturing guidelines	-	✓	The UK baby dairy companies are following the strict manufacturing guidelines, and this helps them to prevent quality problems.
Inspection of each final product	-	✓	Using advanced technology, UK companies test every single final product. On the other hand, China’s companies are taking from a final batch of products as sample and inspected for quality.
The sophisticated and effective packaging system	✓	-	China has adopted sophisticated and effective techniques for packaging.
Involvement of third parties in QMS	✓	✓	The UK has a more organised system for involving third parties in QMS.
Skilled drivers and suitable transport	✓	✓	Both have realised the importance of using skilled drivers and suitable, temperature-controlled transport.
QMS in the warehouse	✓	✓	Chinese companies have realised that they need to give attention to this aspect and are aware that improvements need to be made.
Use of technology at the post-production stage	✓	✓	Both are using this, but the UK has more advanced technology.
Supportive and active role played by government	-	✓	The government of UK is playing a supportive role in supporting the quality management at BDP industry.
National quality standards	✓	✓	The UK has stricter standards which result in better quality and fewer problems for the industry.
Robust implementation of legislation	-	✓	The system for enforcing the legislation related to quality management is quite robust in the UK.
Internal quality standards	✓	✓	The industries in both countries have internal quality standards that help them to manage quality.
International quality standards	✓	✓	The industries in both countries have adopted the international quality standards. However, China is far behind the UK in the process.
Incentives	-	✓	UK industry provides the incentives to all supply chain actors to implement quality management system while Chinese baby dairy industry is not doing anything like this.