Assessing the influence of continuous improvement on manufacturing performance at a fertiliser company

Abstract

Continuous improvement has been introduced to a fertiliser manufacturing company through a benchmarking exercise performed by senior management. The adoption and commitment of this improvement strategy, has remained optional for the production departments at the company. After 3 years of polarised deployment, the company seeks to understand the quantifiable benefit of continuous improvement on its manufacturing performance. The effect of continuous improvement on manufacturing performance, within a South African fertiliser company, has not been studied to date. This concept, originating from the Japanese automobile assembly sector, has proven to yield significant benefits such as economies of scope as well as economies of scale in the automobile sector. This study is based on the assessment of continuous improvement on manufacturing performance within the industrial sector in Sasolburg, South Africa. The objective of the study is to determine whether the implementation of continuous improvement resulted in a positive, negative or unchanged impact on manufacturing performance. Conclusions on the influence of continuous improvement on manufacturing performance were made, based on the results of the quantitative study conducted. Recommendations were then proposed to the company in line with the results obtained.