Lean manufacturing practices in Malaysian automotive industry

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of lean manufacturing implementation in Malaysian automotive components manufacturer. Semi-structured interview and open-ended questionnaire were used to investigate on how to successfully implement lean manufacturing in Malaysia manufacturing industry. The interview was conducted at a case study company with two managerials who are familiar with lean manufacturing implementation projects. The case study company was selected due to its achievement as a Toyota Production System Model Company awarded by the Malaysia Japan Automotive Industries Cooperation. The finding shows that this case study company used the project approach in their early stage of implementing lean manufacturing projects. The project based is a small scale project where the focus of lean manufacturing implementation is to solve the problems at a small area. They form a team with five full-time members, determine a model line for lean manufacturing implementation project, and then did the continuous improvements effort with focus on reducing the level of inventory. By reducing the level of inventory, this case study company was able to reduce other form of wastes including over production, waiting times, excessive transportation, excessive processing, excessive motion, and defective products. In the project based approach the company, conducted continuous improvement efforts until saturated level of major improvement and achieving a stable condition for the model line. Through their efforts and achievements in implementing lean manufacturing, this case study company has become a reference and role model for the other manufacturing companies in Malaysia.