ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The Malaysia export-based furniture industry has contributed significantly to the Malaysia economy over the years. Ranked as one of top furniture country exporter, the industry starts experiencing stagnant in 2014. Dependency on producing quality products to be exported worldwide, the industry in need of continuous improvement to ensure better manufacturing performance. This research therefore aimed to study the inhibitors of continuous improvement on manufacturing performance. Quantitative approach is selected as research methodology to reach the aim of research. A total number of 200 Malaysian furniture manufacturers participated in this research using the structured questionnaire. The data obtained are analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. Few analyses were conducted to identify the inhibitors of continuous improvement. Pearson’s Correlation Analysis is deployed to study how the inhibitors influence manufacturing performance and Multiple Regression Analysis used to study the most significant inhibitor. Overall, all the five inhibitors exhibited significant positive relationship with manufacturing performance. The result of the research also revealed, out of the five identified inhibitors, measurement and information deployment influenced the most.
Albliwi, S., Antony, J., Abdul Halim Lim, S., & Van der Wiele, T. (2014). Critical Failure Factors of Lean Six Sigma: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 31(9), 1012-1030.
Bateman, N. (2005). Sustainability: The Elusive Element of Process Improvement. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 25(3), 261-276.
Belén Escrig-Tena, A. (2004). TQM As A Competitive Factor: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 21(6), 612-637.
Bessant, J., Caffyn, S., & Gallagher, M. (2001). An Evolutionary Model Of Continuous Improvement Behaviour. Technovation, 21(2), 67-77.
Bessant, J., Caffyn, S., Gilbert, J., Harding, R., & Webb, S. (1994). Rediscovering Continuous Improvement. Technovation, 14(1), 17-29.
Bhuiyan, N., & Baghel, A. (2005). An Overview of Continuous Improvement: From the Past to the Present. Management Decision, 43(5), 761-771.
Chiarini, A. (2011). Japanese Total Quality Control, TQM, Deming's System of Profound Knowledge, BPR, Lean and Six Sigma: Comparison and Discussion. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 2(4), 332-355.
Dale, B., Boaden, R., Wilcox, M., & McQuater, R. (1997). Sustaining Total Quality Management: What Are The Key Issues? The TQM Magazine, 9(5), 372-380.
Doolen, T. L., Van Aken, E. M., Farris, J. A., Worley, J. M., & Huwe, J. (2008). Kaizen Events and Organizational Performance: A Field Study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 57(8), 637-658.
Garcia-Sabater, J. J., & Marin-Garcia, J. A. (2011). Can We Still Talk About Continuous Improvement? Rethinking Enablers And Inhibitors For Successful Implementation. International Journal of Technology Management, 55(1/2), 28-42.
Irani, Z., Choudrie, J., Love, P. E., & Gunasekaran, A. (2002). Sustaining TQM Through Self-Directed Work Teams. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 19(5), 596-609.
Kaye, M., & Anderson, R. (1999). Continuous Improvement: The Ten Essential Criteria. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 16(5), 485-509.
Kerrin, M. (1999). Continuous Improvement Capability: Assessment Within One Case Study Organisation. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 19(11), 1154-1167.
Laraia, A. C., Moody, P. E., & Hall, R. W. (1999). The Kaizen blitz: accelerating breakthroughs in productivity and performance: John Wiley & Sons.
Marksberry, P., Badurdeen, F., Gregory, B., & Kreafle, K. (2010). Management Directed Kaizen: Toyota's Jishuken Process for Management Development. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 21(6), 670-686.
Ng, B. K., Chandran, V. G. R., & Kanagasundram, T. (2012). Technological Knowledge, Learning And Linkages in The Wooden Furniture Industry in Malaysia: A Spatial Innovation Perspective. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 20(2), 187-200.
Oliver, J. (2009). Continuous Improvement: Role Of Organisational Learning Mechanisms. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 26(6), 546-563.
Rich, N., & Bateman, N. (2003). Companies’ Perceptions of Inhibitors And Enablers For Process Improvement Activities. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 23(2), 185-199.
Sánchez, J.M. (2012). Assessing Sustainability of the Continuous Improvement Through the Identification of Enabling and Inhibiting Factors. Doctor of Philosophy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Tey, K. (2017, June 20). Strengthening the furniture industry. The Star Online. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/06/20/strengthening-the-furniture-industry-threeday-fair-serves-as-platform-to-promote-products-for-export/
Van Aken, E. M., Farris, J. A., Glover, W. J., & Letens, G. (2010). A Framework for Designing, Managing, and Improving Kaizen Event Programs. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Manageme
In-Text Citation: (Mansor, Jen, & Yahaya, 2018)
To Cite this Article: Mansor, N., Jen, Y. L., & Yahaya, S. N. (2018). Inhibitors of Continuous Improvement on Manufacturing Performance in Export-based Furniture Industry. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(10), 1361–1371.
Copyright: © 2018 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode