PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING KAIZEN: THE CASE OF MESFIN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING PLC (GELAN AND ADDIS ABABA)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess Practices and Challenges of implementing Kaizen at Mesfin Industrial Engineering PLC(Gelan and Addis Ababa branches). In addition the objectives were to examine the steps followed to implement kaizen, to point out the major challenges encountered during kaizen implementation, to determine the practice of management and employees of the company on the implementation and sustaining of kaizen as a corporate culture, to identify areas where kaizen practiced successfully and areas where it failed. To address the objectives, descriptive research design was used, primary and secondary data and also a mixed research methods (i. e. an approach of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods) were used to collect data from employees, management, and kaizen officer. The study employed stratified random sampling to select a sample from employees. The data gathered through questionnaire were analyzed using frequency and percentage value of the respondents. Data obtained through interview were qualitatively narrated. The major findings of the study are top management is committed to the implementation of kaizen methodology in the company; absence of recognition and lack of top management commitment as the major challenges, management followed every necessary step to implement kaizen practice in the company, Gelan manufacturing plant is the area where kaizen practiced successfully. The study concluded that, kaizen implemented successfully in the company and the management followed the necessary steps in the implementation but there are different challenges encountered during the implementation. Finally the study recommends that the management need to work to eradicate the challenges faced, to reduce wastes, to practice kaizen on a continuous basis and follow the status of kaizen in every work place.