Conceptual framework for implementing bottom-up Kaizen in the Malaysian automotive sector

Abstract

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.