Process Design and Efficiency of Analytical Laboratories in Kenya
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish if there exists a relationship between service
process designs and Kenyan Analytical Laboratories operating efficiencies. The study
was guided by four specific objectives; to identify the different types of process designs
of analytical laboratories in Kenya, to determine the efficiency of Kenyan analytical
laboratories to determine if there is a relationship between process design and analytical
laboratories performances in terms of efficiency in Kenya and to determine the
contribution of analytical laboratories to the Kenyan economy. The study adopted a
descriptive research design. The population of the study comprised of 50 Kenyan
Analytical Laboratories operating in Kenya and a census study was carried out. The
sample size was 28 respondents representing a 56% response rate. The study relied on
primary data collection which was done using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was
administered physically through a research assistant. The findings showed Kenyan
Analytical Laboratories mostly employ commodity and simplicity process designs this
could possibly be attributed to Kenyan analytical laboratories having simple job tasks and
responsibilities or there could be a lot of the automation of the analysis process. The
average operating efficiency levels of these laboratories was 43.8% which was low
compared to other international laboratories. Further findings revealed that there was no
supported relationship between the type of service process designs adopted by Kenyan
analytical laboratories and their operating efficiency levels, this was explained that other
factors like methodology selection and application, innovation and technology, and
training could be the reason. Additionally, out of the 5 key contributions of analytical
laboratories to the Kenyan economy 4; Pharmacy and Drug Control, Agriculture
Standards Maintenance, Environmental Pollution and Control and Research and
Development were averaging between 61-80% contribution rate with the exception of
food safety which the respondents rated the highest with its contribution rate being 81-
100%, this was due to the fact that most of the Kenyan Analytical Laboratories samples
for analysis are food, processing and manufacturing type of samples. Based on the
findings, the study concluded and recommended that Kenyan Analytical Laboratories
should not put a lot of emphasis on using the type of service process design they employ
to drive up their efficiency levels as the study revealed that there is no supported
relationship existing between service process designs and operating efficiency levels of
these types of Laboratories. The study was limited to only analytical types of laboratories
and not others like medical laboratories. Further research was proposed to be carried out
to analyze whether this lack of relationship also exists in other types of Laboratories like
Medical Laboratories.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
Process Design and EfficiencyRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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