Operations Management Practices And Performance Of Schneider Electric Kenya

Abstract

Operations management practices are internal factors that contribute to competence development; and therefore offer competitive advantages for firms. Today’s competitive global market is characterized by stringent business regulations, high operating costs, scarcity of resources, and unpredictable demand from increasingly informed customers. This study therefore wanted to establish the operations management practices used by multinational manufacturing firms in Kenya and how they impact performance. Exploratory case study design was used in this study. The focus of this study was Schneider Electric Kenya. This study targeted at least 100 employees from senior, middle and lower level of management involved directly with the operations management decisions. These levels gave a precise inference of the target population. The study depended on essential information, which was gathered by way of semi-structured questionnaires that had both open ended and closed questions. The researcher organized, tabulated and summarized the collected data. Charts and graphs were used to illustrate the findings. Central tendency gauges were further used to represent the analysis findings. A linear regression predictor model was also generated to show the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable. The study revealed that there is regular inspection of machines and facilities and the operators are responsible for their own machine cleaning, lubrication, and regular maintenance. The study revealed that; the organization has a documented quality management system in place and also that the magnitude and frequency of quality related occurrences has reduced significantly over the past one year and that statistical quality control techniques are understood and used. The study concluded that total productive maintenance, total quality management, international lean practices, just in time, six sigma and continuous improvements are operations management practices that aids in decreasing times for new item's advancement and commercialization and also ensures flexibility of organization in adapting to different production capacity thereby in overall improvement in reliability and reduction of costs. The study recommended that the management of the company should set clear policies regarding work comparison; also the management should come with strong internal controls that support the selected operations management practices. The management of the company should adopt the operations management practices for effectiveness and efficiency.