Operations Management Practices and Performance of Steel Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
Abstract
Changes in business environment occasioned by globalization and development in
information communication and technology have revolutionized the way manufacturing is
conducted. The entire manufacturing process from reception of input to generation of
outputs needs to be closely monitored to ensure high quality products are produced in a
more effective manner. The issue of organizational performance has been central in
sustaining businesses in dynamic technological innovations, political and economic factors
and customer demands. Organizations employ various practices in order to achieve high
efficiency which results into their performance. The study sought to determine how
operational management practices influenced performance with specific reference to
Kenya’s steel manufacturing firms. The type of design adopted was descriptive. The study
targeted one manager from each steel manufacturing, form Operations management
department making a total of 165 managers as the respondents. The study used a census
design because the population was small and it is easily accessible. This study collected
primary data using structured questionnaires. The study found out that operation
management practices positively influence performance of steel manufacturing company.
The study concludes that manufacturing firms’ labor was easily available and the
distribution was easily accessible. The firms hired more workers when demand increased
and increased working hours depending on demand. The firms experienced limited
employee skills, there was limited capital to invest in the operations management practices
and relatively high costs associated with new technologies hindered the application of
management practices. The study recommends that manufacturing firms’ labor ought to be
easily available and the distribution ought to be easily accessible. The firms ought to hire
more workers when demand increases and increase working hours depending on the
demand. The organization ought to implement a quality management system and conduct
regular staff training on quality management programs. Manufacturing firms ought to
increase their market edge due to increased level of competition in the industry. Employees
ought to be ready to adapt to change and the cost of implementation of operations
management practices should not hinder the application of operation management
practices.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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