| dc.description.abstract | KAIZEN (Japanese word for continuous improvement) is the use of various problemsolving
tools for the identification and solution of work-based problems. The purpose of
this study was to establish the relationship between kaizen sustainability and operational
performance in Kenyan manufacturing firms. The specific objectives of this study being
to determine the extent to which sustainability of kaizen improvement outcomes has
contributed to operational Performance in Kenyan manufacturing firms and establish the
challenges faced by Kenyan manufacturing firms in sustaining kaizen, in the context of
the economic, social and cultural environment that they operate in. A survey
questionnaire was used to collect data from operations managers or their equivalents in
24 Kenyan manufacturing firms that are practicing kaizen. Descriptive statistics was used
to evaluate the extent to which sustainability of kaizen improvement outcomes has
contributed to operational Performance in Kenyan manufacturing firms and establish the
challenges faced by Kenyan manufacturing firms in sustaining kaizen, in the context of
the economic, social and cultural environment that they operate in. Individual operations
performance measures were regressed against the set of kaizen practices to evaluate the
relationship between the two. A regression model was used to evaluate the overall
relationship between kaizen implementation and operations performance improvement.
The results from the study shown that kaizen practices had varying degrees of
sustainability in Kenyan manufacturing firms with the aspect of improved maintenance
practices having the greatest extent of sustainability and aspect of lower inventory levels
having the least extent of sustainability. On challenges faced in kaizen implementation,
lack of management support, ineffective training and lack of proper communication about
kaizen posed the greatest challenge whereas employees’ commitments and
innovativeness, financial constraints posed the least challenge. Results from the
regression analysis showed that sustainability of kaizen practices in Kenyan
manufacturing firms is significantly related to operational performance. This study has
provided insights into the extent of sustainability of kaizen in Kenyan manufacturing
firms, and provides further evidence that kaizen sustainability is fundamental in adding
value on operational performance | en_US |
