The Effect of Lean Supply Chain Management Components on Operational Performance Among Tea Factories in Kenya

Abstract

This study was seeking to establish the effect of lean supply chain management components on operational performance in the tea factories in Kenya. It also sought to establish the relationship between lean supply chain management and operational performance among tea factories in Kenya. Towards the achievement of the objectives, the research adopted a descriptive research design which involved distribution of questionnaires to various Kenya Tea Development Agency factories. A good response rate of 77.8% was realized. This study also established a regression and correlation analysis between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The findings of the study were that different factories adopt different lean supply chain components depending on their time of introduction to lean supply chain management. The study also established that most of the factories involved lean procurement, lean production as well as lean warehousing. The study concluded that the incorporation of lean supply chain management components in the operations of the organizations be part of the long term strategy of the organizations for them to improve on their operational performance. This study therefore recommends that organizations should consider adopting lean supply chain management components fully as this will be beneficial in the long run compared to the initial costs involved in the implementation of the components