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Due to rising global competition and major changes in consumer demands, preferences, and tastes, many businesses today use the Japanese management technique known as Kaizen to adjust their production processes to meet these expectations. The sole goal of this study was to improve the overall productivity of medium-scale industries by integrating the kaizen philosophy into the production process. Most learning exercises carried out as part of kaizen initiatives were designed to improve social outcomes regarding employees’ problem-solving skills and attitudes. In particular, Kaizen coordinators are concerned with employees’ understanding of continuous improvement and their communication and problem-solving abilities. The pilot project was carried out in the production lines where vanilla extracts were being produced. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle technique was used in this study to improve productivity in the production process. The pitch diagram was used as a supportive tool. The two prominent techniques that mainly contributed to the increase in productivity were the PDCA cycle and the pitch diagram. Kaizen implementation led to a 37% increase in the company's total productivity. To increase productivity even further, water tapping and measurement were merged. As a result, it took just 2 minutes instead of 5 to fill a bottle with 20 liters of water. This study concludes that the Kaizen philosophy and elimination of non-value-adding tasks from the production process improve output.

From the mid-1980s, Morocco confirmed its choice to liberalize trade so that international trade could become a lever for development. However, despite these ambitions, the persistence of the trade deficit has led us to reflect on the challenges of exports and the factors that can trigger the emergence of new competition. At this level, logistics has become one of the key factors to circumvent the obstacles that affect the supply of Moroccan exports. This paper aims to study and assess the impact of the determinants of logistics performance on export performance in the Moroccan context. It follows that the general concepts will be defined, and a review of the literature on the importance of the determinants of logistics performance in exporting companies will be presented, as well as the theoretical and practical research work that has studied the impact of determinants of logistics performance on export performance. The data were collected from the logistics directors and managers of 90 Moroccan exporting companies and later were analyzed by using the structural equation modelling technique to test the hypotheses and validate the research model. The results of our empirical study showed that the three determinants of logistics performance (collaboration, information sharing and logistics strategy) positively affect the export performance of Moroccan firms, also, we have distinguished that the three determinants play a very important role in improving the company's activities and strengthening the relationship between suppliers and customers, and finally, we found that all hypotheses of our study are validated. Our study has shown that there are certain determinants of logistics performance (collaboration, information sharing and logistics strategy) that contribute to the improvement of export performance in companies. In addition, we will verify our conceptual model in other countries which would allow us to identify universal trends and we have distinguished that there are other determinants and other important variables that will be integrated in our future research model.

A strong supply chain management in healthcare institutions improves the healthcare service quality at the micro level and contributes to the national economy at the macro level. The healthcare service includes various producers, suppliers and their activities within the supply chain. Thereby, the performance of these organizations as well as their intra-chain activities affects the healthcare service. On the other hand, to provide a qualified and efficient healthcare service, it is necessary but difficult to manage this versatile chain effectively. The current study aims to provide an overview of supply chain management of Turkish health sector in terms of theoretical and practical aspects. Firstly, the study examines healthcare supply chain management and its components. The following sections discuss drug and medical device manufacturers, wholesale distributors and retailers in the Turkish health sector supply chain. Finally, the problems encountered in the health sector supply chain applications and their possible solutions are discussed. Therefore by providing a better understanding of the supply chain management applications in the healthcare sector, it is intended to provide guidance to both managers and researchers for their future work.

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.

This study examines the collaboration between Lean Six Sigma principles and order fulfilment procedures, which are essential for facilitating international trade. The objective is to ascertain the extent to which sustainable and effective lean processes improve customer satisfaction and accelerate global product delivery. The study employs a dual methodology: initially, doing a comprehensive analysis of the current body of literature on the integration of Lean Six Sigma in order fulfilment inside various manufacturing companies, with the aim of finding any deficiencies or areas that require further investigation. Furthermore, we utilise a quantitative approach by administering surveys to professionals in the South African manufacturing industry. Deductive reasoning examines responses using random sampling to ensure unbiased selection. The findings emphasise that using Lean Six Sigma practices in the South African manufacturing sector can address customer concerns regarding the quality of orders and the timeliness of deliveries. This can provide a competitive advantage in the global market. The study validates that the inclusion of Lean Six Sigma measurements alleviates bottlenecks by focusing on improvements in operations, procedures, and communication. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of Lean Six Sigma methodologies in improving order fulfilment for enterprises engaged in international trade. It promotes these concepts to optimise processes, assuring timely deliveries and increased customer satisfaction. This study addresses several deficiencies in the current research on the incorporation of Lean Six Sigma in the manufacturing order fulfilment process. These gaps encompass the challenges of incorporating emerging technology, integrating collaborative supply chains, and incorporating sustainable practices. The distinctive methodology of integrating a comprehensive analysis of existing literature with empirical evidence enhances the novelty of the research outcomes. Manufacturing companies that aim to achieve global market excellence get practical advantages.

This paper examined the effect of TQM on environmental performance (EP) and the mediating role of innovation (INN) in this relationship. We employed a quantitative research method and collected cross-sectional data from 320 SMEs in the food and beverages manufacturing industry OF Ghana. We further utilised PLS-SEM to analyse the data collected. The main results revealed that TQM has a favourable and substantial impact on EP (β = 0.812, p-value = 0.000) and on INN (β = 0.771, p-value = 0.000). Additionally, INN has a favourable and substantial impact on EP (β = 0.163, p-value = 0.000), and, finally, INN partially mediates the direct link between TQM and EP (β = 0.126, p-value = 0.000). However, this mediating effect was strongly influenced by continuous improvement, employee involvement and product innovation. Therefore, SMEs in the food and beverages manufacturing sector should consider investing more in continuous improvement and employee involvement initiatives. Also, pay close attention to and adapt to changes in taste and market trends related to their products.

This study seeks to examine the impact of quality control techniques on operational efficiency in manufacturing organisations, specifically identifying the most successful practices that foster long-term success. The research employs a twofold approach: it first analyses current literature on the incorporation of quality principles in diverse manufacturing companies, identifying shortcomings.  Secondly, employing quantitative methodologies through surveys directed at South African manufacturing experts. This study utilised a purposive sample method to choose participants from the available population.  Purposive sampling is a nonprobability sampling technique that involves gathering data from designated target groups or individuals according to a defined criterion. The results indicate that employee training, ongoing improvement, and internal audits are the paramount quality control techniques, substantially promoting a culture of quality and advancing operational development. Employee engagement, proactive strategies, and remedial actions are seen as essential components for maintaining enduring operational performance. The incorporation of supplier quality management and control charts improves decision-making and guarantees product uniformity. The research highlights that organisations can enhance competitiveness, operational efficiency, and customer happiness through the implementation of good quality control practices. These methods result in enhanced production, decreased operational expenses, and increased market sustainability. Organisations must prioritise staff training, ongoing enhancement, and supplier quality control to maintain a competitive edge. This study enhances the existing information by emphasising the essential quality control techniques that affect operational efficiency in manufacturing entities. It offers significant insights into the execution of quality control techniques and their influence on business performance, presenting pragmatic recommendations for managers aiming to enhance operational efficiency.

The sustainability of South African automotive component suppliers faces increasing pressure due to global supply chain disruptions and heightened buyer demands. Within this competitive environment, traditional differentiators such as price and product quality are largely prescribed by buyers, leaving suppliers with limited strategic levers. Relationship quality has therefore emerged as a crucial factor in building trust and securing long-term customer retention. The central research question is: What is the correlation between trust and relationship quality in buyer-supplier exchanges within the automotive supply chain? This article reports on a quantitative study that examined the relationship between supplier–buyer relationship quality and the development of trust. A directional linear relationship between these constructs was tested to determine the extent to which relational factors contribute to sustainable partnerships. The findings indicate a strong and significant correlation, suggesting that supplier actions during sourcing interactions can meaningfully influence levels of trust. Trust, in turn, enhances perceived customer value and contributes to customer retention in an industry where competitive advantages are narrow. The study underscores the need for South African automotive component suppliers to prioritise strategies that strengthen relationship quality with their buyers. By fostering trust through relational practices, suppliers may achieve more resilient business outcomes and sustain their market position within a challenging global supply chain environment.

This article investigates the impact of Supply Chain Relationship Management (SCRM) on operational efficiency, with a specific focus on the mediating role of information sharing. SCRM has been widely recognized for promoting collaboration and improving operational outcomes in supply chains. However, the effectiveness of SCRM practices is significantly enhanced when accompanied by robust information-sharing mechanisms. The study utilizes Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data collected from 108 supply chain professionals in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana. The results show that information sharing plays a critical role in mediating the relationship between SCRM and operational efficiency, highlighting its importance as a mechanism for facilitating better coordination, reducing operational costs, and improving lead times. These findings offer valuable insights into how inter-organizational collaboration and effective information exchange contribute to operational improvements in supply chains, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector in developing economies. The study contributes both theoretical and practical perspectives on supply chain management.  

Customers’ demand for printing industry to be more productive and compete globally in relation to delivery, cost, quality and use of technological factors is one of the factors which have a possible impact on productivity. Printing establishments through the South African printing industry have a major role to play in the country’s economy. Printing industry is characterised by overloading, inefficiency and ineffectiveness affecting overall organisational performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing productivity improvement practices and develop productivity improvement model to improve printing division. This study follows a qualitative research approach as it is an exploratory research technique used to understand the underlying reasons, perceptions and motivations of individuals in solving a problem. A sample of Government Printing Works’ (GPW) employees directly involved in the printing, finishing and packaging of Higher Education and Training examination question papers located in Pretoria, City of Tshwane municipality participated in this study. A number of critical success and barriers to productivity improvement practices are identified.  Barriers factors include poorly designed process; poorly designed layout; poor quality materials; lack of effective maintenance plans; unsatisfactory planning; supplier inefficiencies and customer inefficiencies were the major causes of low productivity in the GPW. This comprehensive and holistic framework can assist government printing employees’ and lean practioners’ in their lean manufacturing implementation journey systematically and improve the organisation’s performance.