Investigating the Impact of Continuous Improvement (CI) Methodology on Improving Production Capabilities in Industrial Companies in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the competition in the market has increased over the past decades as a result of globalisation, increasing customer orientation and rapid development of technology which increased the pressure on companies to be more innovative in order to survive. The concept of 'Continuous Improvement' has received greater attention over the past decades as a tool to enhance business performance and achieve competitive advantage. An example would be the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle which is a systematic approach to obtain incremental improvement through testing and applying. The concept of continuous improvement is based on the Japanese 'Kaizen' philosophy which means improvement. There is limited research on the adoption and use of continuous improvement methodologies in Saudi Arabia's manufacturing sector and hence, this study aims to explore the extent to which this concept is being implemented, perceived and its impact on enhancing production capabilities.