Effects of continuous improvement on shop-floor employees’ job performance in Lean production: The role of Lean duration

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present empirical findings of the effect of continuous improvement (CI) on shop-floor employees’ job performance in the Lean production system-implemented textile and apparel firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A random sample of 657 shop-floor employees engaged full-time in Lean production systems-implemented textile and apparel firms in Sri Lanka responded to the survey. Statistical methods were used for data analysis.

Findings

It was revealed that CI significantly and positively influences shop-floor employees’ job performance, and the duration of Lean production in operations (termed as Lean duration) moderates this relationship.

Originality/value

Investigations on the ways in which CI initiatives influence employees is important in creating an environment to sustain the improvement efforts over a longer period. Such lessons would be valuable for academics and practitioners alike worldwide.

Citation

Wickramasinghe, G.L.D. and Wickramasinghe, V. (2016), "Effects of continuous improvement on shop-floor employees’ job performance in Lean production: The role of Lean duration", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 182-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-07-2016-0014