Exploring the mediating influences of total quality management and just in time between green supply chain practices and performance Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah and Ebenezer Afum Transportation Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China Carin Agnikpe and Jiaxin Cai Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China Esther Ahenkorah Regent University College of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana, and Essel Dacosta Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China Abstract Purpose – The desire for firms to gain competitive advantage and improve performance has resulted in the adoption of several practices. Green supply chain practices (GSCPs), just in time (JIT) and total quality management (TQM) are some of the practices adopted by firms to improve operational performance (OP) and business performance (BP). This study examines the direct influence of GSCPs, JIT and TQM on operational performance and BP. The study further analyzes the synergy of GSCPs, JIT and TQM on OP and BP. Design/methodology/approach – This study employs the quantitative approach of research by using questionnaire to gather data from manufacturing managers and supply chain managers of 140 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The research uses partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) to analyze the survey data. Findings – The results of the analysis show that GSCPs, TQM and JIT positively influence both OP and BP. The findings reveal that GSCPs combine with JIT and TQM to improve OP and BP significantly. However, the synergy between green supply chain and TQM creates more value for both OP and BP than the synergy between GSCPs and JIT. Originality/value – The study proposes a research model that examines both the individual and combined influence of GSCPs, TQM and JIT on both OP and BP from the developing country perspective. The study models GSCPs as an antecedent of JIT and TQM, which has not been explored. Keywords Green supply chain practices (GSCPs), Just in time (JIT), Total quality management (TQM), Business performance, Ghana Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction Global competition, uncertain business environment and environmental concern are pushing firms to look beyond internal core competencies and capabilities to adopt supply chain practices that help develop competitive advantage and improve performance through customer satisfaction and meeting other stakeholders’ requirements (Agyabeng-Mensah et al., 2019a, b, c). Several firms have resorted to both internal and external supply chain practices, which ensure that resources are judiciously used to reduce waste and provide environmental protection that leads to cost reduction and improves performance. Green supply chain practice (GSCP) is an environmental management approach adopted by many firms to create competitive advantage and improve performance. However, the adoption of this practice has resulted in inconsistent firm performance (Feng et al., 2018). The findings of some existing pieces of literature, which seek to establish the relationship between financial The synergy of GSCP, JIT and TQM on OP and BP The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/1741-038X.htm Received 8 March 2020 Revised 25 April 2020 14 May 2020 Accepted 2 June 2020 Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management © Emerald Publishing Limited 1741-038X DOI 10.1108/JMTM-03-2020-0086