WASTE MINIMIZATION THROUGH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TOOLS (THE CASE OF BERHANENA SELAM PRINTING ENTERPRISE)

Abstract

Obviously, today´s competitive environment has changed the mindset of printing industry, which activated to concentrate towards waste minimization as a crucial issue in the printing industry.This study aims at assessing the type of wastes prevailing and identify their root causes at Birhanena Selam printing enterprise. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. And also, Reviewing documents and Interviews methods were applied to collect data. All of the workers in the printing department were included in the study and The total population of the study was 32. the findings of the study revealed that the types of wastes in the printing enterprise were newspaper waste, tear-off waste, Reel-end waste, and sweeping waste‖. It also revealed that during the study period the average waste excreted in the department were 9574 kg/month. In addition, the findings revealed the large amount of waste was newspaper waste which accounts about 44.9%. Data analysis was carried out using quality improvement Tools. After Pareto Analysis, it was found that News-paper waste is the major contributor to the printing paper waste. In order to know the causes leading to News-paper waste, a Cause and Effect Diagram was prepared using brainstorming and preparing Questionnaires for the respondents which helped in locating the major causes. Ideas were generated to improve the process and reduce the news-paper waste in all categories.