Barriers to Lean Manufacturing implementation for micro industries in Tanzania: Structural equation modelling (sem)

Abstract

The study aims to identify barriers and examine their relationships in implementing Lean Manufacturing (LM) for micro industries in Tanzania. Using a survey design and purposive sampling, data was collected from 96 respondents through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), and the Relative Importance Index (RII) were used for data analysis. The study identified five critical barriers: lack of training, lack of investments, high investment cost, lack of motivation, and absence of a lean performance management system. It also revealed causal relationships between external, management, technical, and human-related barriers. These findings can help industries and stakeholders develop strategies to overcome these challenges before implementing LM. Such strategies will improve the success of LM implementation, enhance operational and financial performance, and contribute to Tanzania’s GDP growth. The study recommends that the Tanzania government should offer targeted training and collaborate with financial institutions to provide low-interest loans to micro industries. This is the first study focused on identifying barriers to LM implementation in Tanzania’s micro industries.