Investigating the underlying attributes of a reliability-focused improvement and culture in manufacturing and product development organizations

Abstract

Product reliability is essential to its acceptance in the current competitive market. Hence, organizations must understand the significance of attributes that support reliability-focused improvement and culture in manufacturing and product development. The aim of the study is, therefore, to examine literature for key underlying attributes that support reliability-focused improvement and culture. Based on literature information, a questionnaire designed and used to analyze experts and managers judgment about the above-mentioned problem. Twenty-two attributes are considered in the questionnaire. Using manufacturing firms in Nigeria, 114 questionnaires were administered—the questionnaire’s response rate was 97.33%. Single-factor ANOVA method was used to analyze the collected questionnaires. The calculated F value 1.9293 is greater than the F crit 1.5601, while the calculated P value (0.0068) is less than the significance level (0.05). Hence, it was deduced that the attributes were significant and they support reliability-focused improvement initiative and culture in manufacturing systems. This result is beneficial to product development companies because it provides design and industrial managers with an in-depth understanding of reliability concerns of products and an in-depth understanding of the control, prevention and elimination of wastes and losses in their products.