Continuous Improvement and its Barriers in Electrical and Electronic Industry

Continuous improvement is one of the core strategies for manufacturing excellence and is considered vital in today’s business environment. This study aims to determine the main factors in implementing continuous improvement practices in the Electrical and Electronic Industry, as well as to identify the tools used and the obstacles encountered. The research methodology involved distributing 200 questionnaires to employees in the Electrical and Electronic Industry located at Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia, with a total of 41 responses, yielding a response rate of about 20.5%. Results indicate that teamwork and training are the most significant factors and practices influencing continuous improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the Electrical and Electronic Industry predominantly utilizes Lean Manufacturing methods as a tool for continuous improvement. However, challenges such as budget constraints and lack of worker commitment were identified as significant barriers to effective implementation. This study highlights the necessity for manufacturers in the Electrical and Electronic sector to set clear goals and prioritize improvement areas to successfully navigate the competitive landscape.