Achieving operational resilience through kaizen practice: a case in a commercial livestock farm in Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThis study is focused on achieving operational resilience through the practices of kaizen across the operational structure. The research is based on a case study of a commercial livestock farm in Nigeria. The study views the practice of kaizen from the perspective of the commitment of the members of the case study organisation who are directly involved with the operations of the organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies a qualitative approach to explore the topic, engaging members of the case study organisation in the research to gather relevant data on the implementation of kaizen practices and the drive to attain resilience in the case study organisation. Semi-structured personal interviews and workshops were used for data collection. The study adopts systems theory to explore the topic, identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders.FindingsParts of the findings relating to kaizen are the issues with the livestock production process, aggressive leadership and the issue of livestock mortality in the case study organisation. These were discussed based on extant literature. The study affirms the importance of organisational members' commitment and adequate leadership support to achieve sustainable kaizen practices. The study highlights the need to align kaizen practices with relevant organisational practices, such as reward systems and contextual requirements for its implementation in an operational process. The study suggests that further study can focus on the dynamics of the legal system on the implementation of kaizen, especially from a developing economic background like Nigeria, where this study was conducted.Originality/valueThe study projects learning about the spatial factors that can affect the practices of kaizen in critical sectors like livestock management.

A solution approach proposal with a lean perspective for the poultry sector with WRM and BWM integration

“…According to Table 8, discussions and implications are presented for the poultry sector for each pair of lean wastes and lean tools.While overproduction is revealed as the most significant waste for the poultry sector, the Kaizen approach is suggested as the solution methodology. Kaizen is a comprehensive lean approach that aims for continuous improvement by standardizing processes, improving quality, and reducing variability (Ufua et al ., 2023). Kaizen can and should be adopted by the entire organization, and it is useful for eliminating all kinds of waste.…”

“…standardizing processes, improving quality, and reducing variability (Ufua et al, 2023). Kaizen can and should be adopted by the entire organization, and it is useful for eliminating all kinds of waste.…”

Driving Operational Resilience: Perspectives from Emerging and Developing Economies

“…Resilience, from the perspective of operations or supply chain, refers to the ability or propensity of an organisation's supply chain or operation's architecture to proactively elicit value-add in alignment with customer requirements due to the vagaries of dynamic environment. Thus, organisations harness the capability to continuously innovate and retool their preparedness and response towards an unstable and changing business world [1,2]. This situation requires a continuous re-jigging and re-tooling of business processes and supply flows geared towards the need to suit and engage the disruptive and unstable external forces in tandem with the capability to rebound to normalcy.…”