scholarly journals Continuous Improvement Practices in Manufacturing Companies in the Sultanate of Oman

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Samiya Al-Qayoudhi ◽  
◽  
Shanmuga Pria ◽  
Venkata Prasad ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Product Recalls ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Social Statistics

Purpose The aims of this study were to identify Continuous Improvement (CI) practices prevailing in the manufacturing companies with regards to Visual Management, Employee Engagement, Leadership and Risk Management; to identify continuous improvement tools that have been adopted by the manufacturing companies; and to analyze the critical success factors for implementing CI practices in manufacturing companies. Design/methodology/approach For this study, a survey questionnaire was used to collect the CI practices information from manufacturing companies in Oman. 146 samples were collected from 75 manufacturing units selected at random from the Public Establishment for Industrial Estate database. The data was analysed for reliability, robustness, ranking tests using Statistical Package for Social Statistics (SPSS). Findings The majority of the manufacturing firms were using only the CI program for the past five years. However, there was not substantial cost savings for these businesses. The overall sales increased, while the average processing time had declined and the product recalls also had increased. The most important factors identified for the effective implementation of CI in industrial firms were effective communication, top management encouragement, and employee involvement and conducive organization atmosphere. Social Implications Sultanate of Oman like any other GCC countries is undergoing a critical phase in economy because of the oil price plunge combined with ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The paper will be of use to academics, researchers and continuous improvement practitioners. Originality/value So far, very few studies have been conducted in analyzing the factors correlated to CI in the Omani context and no study was carried out before in exploring the CI application in the Sultanate of Oman.

scholarly journals Factorial Analysis of the Critical Success Factors of Continuous Improvement (CI) Techniques in the Companies from Sohar Industrial Estate, Oman

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Samiya Al-Qayoudhi ◽  
◽  
Shanmuga Pria ◽  
Venkata Prasad ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Product Recalls ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Industrial Estates ◽  
Industrial Estate ◽  
The Status ◽  
Application Techniques

Purpose: The research objectives were to analyze the role of continuous improvement (CI) techniques in manufacturing in Oman in the CI process and to investigate the crucial factors of CI and the application techniques of CI that have been implemented by the manufacturing companies during the CI process. Design/methodology/approach: A survey questionnaire was developed with the baseline of CI practices used by manufacturing companies in Oman and a convenient sampling method was used to collect the data. 146 completely filled-in questionnaires were collected from 75 manufacturing units out of the entire Public Establishment database. The data was tabulated, compiled. The robustness was tested along with the ranking tests and the factor analysis using SPSS and AMOS. Findings: The results reveal that the Omani manufacturing companies using structured CI programs had lesser product recalls, leading to increased overall sales, decrease in processing time. Further, it is also revealed that the CI culture and Employee Performance Measurement and Review are instrumental in translating into company savings. Research limitations/implications: This research was limited to Sohar Industrial estate only. As there are nine industrial estates in Oman, the research can be undertaken to study the CI practices adoption in all the other industrial estates as well. Social implications: Countries from all over the world are facing numerous challenges due to COVID-19. The paper will help the manufacturing companies in decision making towards the process improvement. Originality/Value: There are not many studies on continuous improvement practices within the Omani manufacturing industry and this paper examines the status of CI implementation in manufacturing companies in Oman.

Methodology for determining key internal business processes based on critical success factors

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Quesada ◽  
Rado Gazo
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Critical Success

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to help manufacturers determine and rank key internal business processes based on critical success factors (CSF).Design/methodology/approachFirst, company CSF and key performance measures were determined based on vision, mission and strategic objectives statements. Second, most important CSF were prioritized according to rating scores such as cost savings, necessary improvement, and own discretion using a balanced scoreboard procedure and a prioritization matrix. Third, CSF were related to internal business processes based on “strength of relationship” in order to define the most critical internal processes. Fourth, possible differences in the perception of CSF and strategic objectives among different management levels were compared. Fifth, the methodology was validated in three furniture manufacturing companies.FindingsIt was found that when a firm is missing vision or mission statements, it is imperative to define them before CSF can be identified. The CSF found through this case study were related to customer service, manufacturing management, quality and price of the products. The key internal business processes identified for the companies in this study were customer engagement, product operations and supply chain management. Conclusions show that better results were obtained when this methodology was applied to highest‐level of management.Originality/valueThis study has proved to be a useful tool to determine a strategy based on CSF and their relationship to internal business processes. Plant managers in our case studies were able to prioritize the critical internal business processes for their plants based on the most important CSF.

Determination of the Critical Success Factors (CSF) in the Implementation of Six Sigma (SS) and Its Sustainable Benefits

2020 ◽  
pp. 261-280
Author(s):  
Aida López ◽  
Jesús A. Hernández Gómez ◽  
Karla I. Velázquez Victorica ◽  
Vianey Torres Argüelles ◽  
Salvador Noriega Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Environmental Care ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Correct Implementation

Currently, organizations seek to position themselves in the market as the most competitive and profitable in their branch, through the continuous improvement of their processes, products, and/or services, applying various techniques, tools, and methodologies. Particularly in this chapter, focus on Six Sigma (SS) will be shown, a strategy used in companies to achieve competitive objectives, continuously improving processes. In this sense, it is considered important to identify and know the main factors that are involved in its implementation. Likewise, the organizations are presenting a culture towards the sustainability and the environmental care, derived from this, the methodology used to develop a measurement instrument that allows to identify the CSF in the implementation of SS, the sustainable benefits that can be achieve with correct implementation, the procedure used for the validation of the content of the instrument, the validity of internal consistency and the obtained results.

scholarly journals Continuous improvement initiatives for dynamic capabilities development

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-149
Author(s):  
Leopoldo Gutierrez-Gutierrez ◽  
Jiju Antony
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
The Usa

Purpose This study aims to analyse the existing literature on continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and dynamic capabilities (DCs) development to explore the question whether CI initiatives foster development of DCs in organisations. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken. Four databases were included in the structured searches (EBSCOhost, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, ProQuest and Emerald Insight), 19 studies were finally included and analysed in detail. Findings The results obtained identify issues such as a growing trend in the publication of studies, the dominant position of the USA and the predominance of empirical papers. The literature was classified according to whether it presents CI as a DC in itself, as an enabler of DC or as a result of the DC. The main critical success factors to be implemented in CI initiatives (CII) were also identified, to enhance the development of DCs. Finally, based on the analysis of the specific DC literature, ten theoretical propositions for possible future research have been developed. Originality/value CII such as Lean Management, Six Sigma and Total Quality Management have been widely implemented in organisations. Despite their reputation, the effects of these initiatives on long-term benefits remain debated, this motivates the SLR of CII and DC. The DC theory tackles the question of how firms can sustain their advantage and profits in the long term, making this perspective ideal for tackling controversy on the benefits of CII.

Design of experiments in the service industry: results from a global survey and directions for further research

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Elisabeth Viles ◽  
Alexandre Fonseca Torres ◽  
Marcelo Machado Fernandes ◽  
Elizabeth A. Cudney
Keyword(s):  
Design Of Experiments ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the current status of Design of experiments (DoE) in the service industry or non-manufacturing processes in the manufacturing sector. This involves the identification of critical success factors and challenges in the use of DoE in the context of the service industry as well as the key skills needed for its successful applications.Design/methodology/approachIn order to identify the critical success factors and challenges, an online survey instrument was developed and distributed across Six Sigma Black Belts (SSBB), Six Sigma Master Black Belts (SSMBB), process improvement champions, continuous improvement professionals, DoE experts and specialists as well as academics who are involved in DoE research and applications.FindingsA total of 109 participants from over 20 countries responded to the study. One of the first findings of the study is that over 40% of the process improvement professionals in the service sector do not have any hands-on experience with the application of DoE. Further, this study highlights the following critical factors for successful DoE applications: dedicating adequate resources in terms of time, budget and people for the experiment; getting a clear understanding of the problem at hand; securing a reliable and validated measurement system for measuring the response or quality characteristics of interest; and identifying input independent variables, which influence the quality characteristics during the brainstorming stage. Some respondents also mention the importance of having training or education in DoE as a critical success factor. At the same time, the lack of adequate planning to experimentation, mathematical knowledge and statistical reasoning remains as challenge to be solved.Research limitations/implicationsAs data were collected at an individual level, inter-reliability, which measures the consistency of judgements on a particular survey item, could not be gauged. Moreover, due to low sample size across some continents, an intercontinental comparative study on the extent of the application of DoE across various continents could not be performed.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first global survey carried out to understand the status of DoE in the service industry. The results of the global study can be used to encourage quality, continuous improvement and process improvement professionals in the service sector to drive wider acceptance of one of the most powerful tools in the Six Sigma toolkit for problem-solving scenarios. Moreover, senior managers in the service industry can take away some of the key benefits, challenges and success factors in the implementation of DoE.

The Role of Project Manager in SMEs for Developing New Product by E-Collaboration

2012 ◽  
Vol 433-440 ◽  
pp. 1637-1645
Author(s):  
Marjan Mohammadjafari ◽  
Ahmed Shamsuddin ◽  
Siti Zawiah Md Dawal ◽  
Hadi Zayandehroodi
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
New Product ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
New Model ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Electronic Collaboration ◽  
Global Organization

The research in this paper is based seeks to understand how manufacturing companies can accomplish of their projects in the real time with less cost. This paper describes a new model using critical success factors of implementing projects in the small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). The factors in conceptual model were identified in past studies and validate from the survey by interview with 20 project management in electronic industries in Iran. Several prior researches have suggested some critical success factors for reducing time and cost in new product. These factors are departments of product, planning, procurement and design. However, none of these studies has proposed a model that specifies practices that should be undertaken to facilitate the progression to reduce time and cost in new product in SMEs. Following this, a development of a new model is supposed important to help SMEs understand what is required in order to be an effective global organization in terms of reduce time and cost by electronic collaboration (E-collaboration) through project management.

scholarly journals Identification of the relationships between critical success factors, barriers and practices for lean implementation in a small company

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laís Pereira ◽  
Guilherme Tortorella
Keyword(s):  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Small Company ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Multi Criteria Analysis

This article aims to identify how the critical success factors (CSF), barriers and practices for lean manufacturing (LM) implementation in a small company are related. For this, the CSF, barriers and practices of LM related to small companies were initially consolidated from a literature review. Through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with the leaders of a small electronics manufacturing company in lean implementation, the relationships were evaluated and ranked through the incorporation of a multi-criteria analysis tool. The integration of a multi-criteria analysis tool into qualitative research methods (focused groups, semi-structured interviews and participatory observation) allowed quantifying these relationships in order to identify convergent efforts for a successful LM implementation. Existing frameworks for lean implementation are targeted at larger companies, disregarding the specific small company context. This study provides a guide to assist LM implementation in small manufacturing companies. Furthermore, the greater understanding of these relationships enables managers to anticipate potential problems, allowing a more successful implementation.

Critical success factors of environmental management accounting practices: findings from Malaysian manufacturing industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nursyazwani Mohd Fuzi ◽  
Nurul Fadly Habidin ◽  
Sharul Effendy Janudin ◽  
Sharon Yong Yee Ong
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Management Accounting ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Environmental Management Accounting ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of environmental management accounting practices in Malaysian manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach A pilot study was carried out on a sample of 60 manufacturing companies from Malaysian manufacturing industry. A survey instrument including 25 measurement items was designed to identify the level of environmental management accounting practices implementation in the Malaysian manufacturing industry. Descriptive statistical analysis and reliability analysis were used to analyze the data with SPSS software. Findings Findings indicate that environmental safety is one of the critical success factors that play the key role in ensuring the safety awareness at workplace. Companies in the manufacturing industries need to obtain critical success factors of environmental management accounting practices implementation to enhance performance, particularly for Malaysian manufacturing industry. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study has been the difficult to find the literature on environmental management accounting practices in the Malaysian manufacturing industry. Another limitation is this study only conducted to 60 manufacturing companies from Malaysian manufacturing industry. Practical implications For practical implications, the development of instruments in this study may be valuable tools to evaluate Environmental Management Accounting Practices (EMAP) in Malaysian manufacturing industry. This study also provides important guidelines for Malaysian manufacturing industry to implement EMAP. This research finding would provide new insights for the critical success factors of EMAP to improve performance in Malaysian manufacturing industry. Originality/value This study makes a new contribution to environmental management accounting practices in Malaysian manufacturing industry. This study also provides important information for decision makers involved in environmental management accounting practices implementation and also provides useful reference for future researchers in this research area.

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