Title: Selection of continuous improvement (CI) tools for improvement of organisational culture and performance towards world class manufacturing

Authors: N. Muthukumar; K. Tamizhjyothi; R.M. Nachiappan; N. Anatharaman

Addresses: Automotive Axles Limited, Hootagalli Industrial Area, Off Hunsur Road, Mysore-570 018, Karnataka, India ' Department of Business Administration, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram – 608002, TamilNadu, India ' Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram – 608002, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of West Indies, St. Augstine, Trinidad, West Indies

Abstract: World class manufacturing (WCM) has attracted the attention of industries due to competitive and unstable global market conditions. This article describes the basis for world class manufacturing (WCM) and discusses the role of culture and performance measurement with nine culture and performance elements called culture and performance elements (CPE). This article focuses on selecting the best CI tools based on factor analysis and analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and examining their relationship with CPE. The proposed three best CI tools are applied in a manufacturing environment to achieve world class culture and performance in a short span of time.

Keywords: world class manufacturing; WCM; continuous improvement tools; kaizen; factor analysis; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; organisational culture; organisational performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2013.059167

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2013 Vol.5 No.4, pp.332 - 360

Published online: 04 Sep 2014 *

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