Conceptual Framework for Implementing Bottom-Up Kaizen in the Malaysian Automotive Sector

• Published in: Journal of Optimization in Industrial Engineering
• Main Author: Kamal S.K.; Rahim Z.A.; Norzura I.; Nakanishi H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Qazvin Islamic Azad University 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85198551699&doi=10.22094%2fQJIE.2024.1117575&partnerID=40&md5=94839b974c74120a2ccbaa22445e4799

This research aimed to discern the determinants shaping the implementation of bottom-up Kaizen models in the Malaysian automotive industry, conducted in three distinct phases: needs analysis, design and development, and evaluation. The identification of model prerequisites involved utilizing two instruments. In the initial phase, a panel of 11 experts employed the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to formulate the model, relying on a 5-point Likert scale survey questionnaire for expert feedback. The second phase employed a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) approach to appraising the model, involving 300 employees in the automotive manufacturing sector. The outcomes from the first phase led to the creation of a model featuring eight constructs encompassing 41 items, specifically tailored for bottom-up Kaizen activities in the Malaysian automotive industry. Subsequently, the results from the second phase underscored that the bottom-up Kaizen activity model comprises seven constructs, wherein only statistically significant and positively influential factors for both direct and mediated paths were considered. This study has culminated in the formulation of a structural relationship model for Bottom-up Kaizen criteria, offering significant potential benefits and serving as a valuable reference for the Malaysian automotive industry. © 2024 Qazvin Islamic Azad University. All rights reserved.