Comparative analysis of the current approach of customers and SMEs from the V4 countries to pro-environmental improving products' quality

principles of sustainable development are increasingly desirable in
the countries of the Visegrad Group. However, the challenge lies in
determining a single, coherent direction for the organization's
development to ensure it meets market requirements while
simultaneously being environmentally friendly. Therefore, the
purpose was to analyse current activities for quality and natural
environment making by SMEs from the electromechanical industry
from V4 countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary)
and current customers' satisfaction with the quality of
environmentally friendly products. The method of research included
survey research among SMEs in the electromechanical industry of
V4 countries and their customers or potential customers. In the period
from March to July 2023, a research sample of 1,078 respondents was
obtained. The U-Mann-Whitney test was used to test the relationship,
where the analyses were performed at the significance level of
α=0,05. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that the current
actions in the area of qualitative-environmental aspects of product
improvement by mentioned enterprises are only slightly consistent
with current customers' expectations. The originality of the research
is that it determines the current direction of development of SMEs
from the electromechanical industry from V4 countries with proecological management of product quality, which will be in line with
customers' requirements. The results from research can be useful for
SMEs from V4 countries, which strive to continuously improve
product quality according to the principles of sustainable
development.