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The performance of productivity has garnered significant interest among economists, with a prevalent discussion affirming the crucial role of productivity enhancement in fostering and sustaining growth. This necessitates businesses to recognise manufacturing excellence in their operations.  Manufacturing excellence is a non-prescriptive paradigm for organisational management aimed at enhancing competitiveness.  The processes established for consistent delivery must yield products with minimal variance and no flaws.  This study investigates the impact of manufacturing excellence strategy on workforce productivity in South African automobile parts manufacturing firms.  The study employed a quantitative methodology to investigate production and associated experiences within an automobile parts manufacturing organisation that implemented a manufacturing excellence strategy for enhancing productivity.  The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), was utilised for data analysis.  The corporation functions within the eThekwini Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa.  The study was conducted by gathering pre- and post-quarterly data on absenteeism, spoilage, and labour productivity.  The findings demonstrate that manufacturing excellence affects labour productivity.  Nonetheless, neither absenteeism nor spoilage correlates with worker productivity following the introduction of manufacturing excellence.  This study reveals the strengths and shortcomings of manufacturing excellence and its impact on workforce productivity in automobile parts manufacturing firms in South Africa. 

Companies in the South African apparel industry are being driven to improve their operational efficiency by implementing Lean Manufacturing Principles (LMPs) as a result of the severe competition that they face both locally and internationally. To evaluate the effectiveness of LMP implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating within the apparel sector in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), this research employed a quantitative methodology. The degree of LMP adoption and its influence on operational performance, quality management, and competitiveness are brought to light through a comparison analysis between a small-sized company (Company A) and a medium-sized company (Company B). The was gathered using a structured survey distributed to employees across different functional levels in both companies. The findings suggest that there are significant differences in the implementation of LMP between the two companies, with Company B reaching a higher degree of adoption and generating more substantial benefits in both efficiency and quality. When it came to smaller businesses, difficulties such as insufficient managerial assistance, limited resources, and knowledge gaps were more noticeable. This study enhances the understanding of LMP application in SMEs and offers recommendations for fostering lean adoption, minimizing waste, and encouraging sustainable practices and continuous improvement within South Africa's apparel industry.

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate how supply chain management (SCM) practices employed by Local Municipality affect service delivery efficiency and effectiveness. Objectives include identifying specific supply chain strategies, evaluating their impact on operational performance, and providing recommendations for improvement. A qualitative research design was used, involving interviews with key stakeholders like supply chain managers. Findings reveal that effective practices, such as collaborative planning and demand forecasting, significantly enhance service delivery and resource management. However, challenges such as limited technological integration and insufficient staff training impede full effectiveness. The study concludes that targeted training and modern technology adoption are essential for improving operational efficiency and community service.