A Survey on Lean Manufacturing Tools Implementation in Malaysian Food and Beverages Industry Using Rasch Model

Abstract

This paper offers a preliminary study on Lean Tools (LT) implementation in Malaysian Food and Beverages Industry. A survey was carried out to determine the most common LT that are currently being implemented in this industry. Out of 1309, a total of 300 organizations have been randomly selected as respondents. The results were analyzed using Rasch Model, and the findings show that the organizations apply only six out of eighteen LT. From the variable map, Kaizen is the most preferable LT, while Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) is the least favorable LT. LT such as Just-In-Time (JIT), Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and Poka Yoke is still unfamiliar in current practice in this industry. This shows that, even though the organizations claim that they are Lean Manufacturing (LM) implementers, they are still at the infancy level. Finally, this is perhaps the first attempt in identifying the extent of LT implementation in Malaysian Food and Beverages Industry using Rasch Model.