Lean Production and Operational Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between lean production and the operational performance of manufacturing firms in Rivers State. The population involved all the sixty-two (62)manufacturing firms in Rivers State with a sample size of four (4) selected manufacturing firms using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination and simple proportion to arrive at the respondents for each Manufacturing firm. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and interview protocol. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with the aid of the Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) was chosen to test the hypothetical model while the qualitative data was organised, coded, and analysed using the NVivo 11. The result showed that there is a significant and positive relationship between lean production and the operational performance of manufacturing firms in Rivers State. Therefore, concluded that lean production is a critical and highly imperative factor in sustaining business operations and performance and thus recommended that management of the manufacturing firms should develop procedures and policies to which employees will adhere and ensure routine checks on equipment and service processes