The Moderating Role of Management Commitment on the Relationship between Kaizen and Competitive Advantage: Case study Khartoum industrial companies

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the relevance of kaizen practices on competitive advantage in Sudanese manufacturing companies. Kaizen practices included 5S, and just in time (JIT). Cost reduction competitive advantage was selected. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from ten manufacturing companies from different industry types. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that kaizen practices collectively are positively and significantly affected organization competitive advantage. Just in Time proved to be positively and significantly related to competitive advantage and it impede the effect of 5S which showed no significant relationship to competitive advantage. The moderating effect of management commitment was also examined. The results of the interaction terms showed that management commitment positively and significantly moderated the relationship between Just in Time and cost reduction, while it did not significantly moderate the relationship between 5S and cost reduction competitive advantage. it is recommended that Management should look up to adopt kaizen methodology and create corporate kaizen culture to ensure synergy between the various departments of the organization and seek to train the employees on different kaizen tools. Most importantly, we contributed to the literature by examining the impact of kaizen practices on competitive advantage in committed management