Assessment of the Practices and Challenges of Kaizen Implementation in Micro and Small Enterprises: The Case of Manufacturing Enterprises Tiwari Pankaj Research Scholar, Uttarakhand Technical University, Uttarakhand, India Online published on 31 October, 2017. Abstract KAIZEN is the overriding concepts behind good management and problem solving tool developed in Japan. However, its practice and implications on micro and small enterprises are not yet empirically studied in India. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the practices and challenges of KAIZEN implementation in micro and small enterprises the case of manufacturing enterprises in Addis Ababa. The researcher raised four basic research questions to address the formulated objectives. The researcher used a concurrent triangulation research design with the mixed approach. To collect data the researcher employed both primary (questionnaire, key informant interview, observation) and secondary (document review) sources of data. From the total population, the study constituted 234 sample size of respondents for questionnaire and nine for interview by using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean) and inferential statistics, chi-square test and correlation using SPSS (V-20) software. Accordingly, the study found out that KAIZEN implementation in manufacturing micro and small enterprises is not at the required level in terms of 5Ss practices and quality control circles. Besides, institutions are not effective KAIZEN implementation support in enterprises due to lack of need assessment to provide KAIZEN training and inconsistency of KAIZEN training, inadequacy of trainers KAIZEN skills and poor follow up systems. On the other hand, enterprises have shown improvements in reduction of overproduction, over processing, waiting and making defects. Moreover, enterprises brought some benefits of better space utilization, safety, faster delivery time, improved product quality and increased customer satisfaction because of KAIZEN implementation, but there is the problem of sustainability due to lack of continual practicability of KAIZEN, lack of management commitment, challenges related to employees attitudinal problems, lack of skilled human resources, lack of modern technologies and capacity gaps characterize the sample enterprises. It is concluded that the implementation of KAIZEN in the sampled enterprises was on very infant stage. Thus, as a recommendation, the enterprises should enhance its practices and improve the benefits by overcoming the challenges so as to maintain sustainability of KAIZEN. Hence, the enterprise management commitment should be maintained throughout the implementation processes by supporting employees, providing on time feedback, providing facilities, making enterprise's working culture convenient, providing appropriate reward and recognition. Furthermore, improve the commitments of employees and improve skilled human resources by providing well-structured training and revise human resource policies to reduce employee turnover. Besides, the enterprises should enhance the availability of technologies and shop layouts with coordination of institution to the successful implementation of KAIZEN. Top Keywords KAIZEN, 5Ss, Waste Elimination, QCC, Implementation. Top |