| dc.description.abstract | The only way to stay competitive in the globalized market is to be efficient. Lean manufacturing
is a strategic tool used to reduce waste and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of an organization. Lean manufacturing focuses on creating more value for customers by eliminating activities that are considered waste. Organizations that can meet or exceed customer’s expectation have a higher chance of survival in the highly competitive market. This study sought to determine the extent to which lean manufacturing practices have been adopted at Bamburi
Cement Limited, the drivers and barriers to effective implementation of lean manufacturing and finally to determine the benefits of implementing lean manufacturing practices at Bamburi
Cement Limited. The research methodology adopted was a case study using Bamburi Cement Limited as the unit of study. The research findings revealed that Bamburi Cement Limited have systems and structures of lean manufacturing practices well in place. However they are not practically or well implemented thus hindering the organization from reaping full benefits of lean manufacturing. The lean manufacturing practices that have been adopted by Bamburi Cement
Limited include: continuous improvement, standardization of work, poka yoke, production smoothing, 5S and total productive maintenance. Value stream mapping and JIT have not implemented. The drivers of lean manufacturing include: increased competition in the industry, to reduce costs, to conserve the natural resources, to attract and retain employees, to improve the company’s performance and to produce high quality products and services at the right time and place thus satisfying the customer’s needs. The benefits of lean manufacturing include: improved housekeeping, improved performance of the organization, multiskilling of workforce, cost control, reduction of waste, improved culture through teamwork activities and most importantly maintaining good relationship with the customers by producing high quality products and services at the required time and place. The challenges to effective implementation of lean manufacturing can be managed well and through training of the lean manufacturing concept, its implementation in the organization will be successful. It is also important that the management of Bamburi Cement Limited implement a system of tracking the effectiveness of each technique and ensure there is a consistent follow up of the systems and structures. In addition, the company can also explore the possibility of implementing value stream mapping and JIT | en |
