Assessment of Productivity and Ergonomic Conditions at the Production Floor: An Investigation into the Bangladesh Readymade Garments Industry

Hamja, Abu; Maalouf, Malek Miguel; Hasle, Peter

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-96068-5_18

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the implementation stage, the specific lean tools and OHS issues were implemented and measured. In the follow-up stage, the sustainability of the intervention project was observed (Hamja et al, 2018;Eira et al, 2015 and its four key suppliers from the Bangladeshi garment industry were selected for this study. We selected the Danish buyer as it is the knowledge partner of the DANIDA research project, while its four key suppliers were chosen based on the following case selection criteria: a) key suppliers since they produce a large volume of goods for the buyer and the buyer maintains a long-term cooperative relationship with them, which is important when establishing new initiatives in supplier factories; b) large suppliers since they are more capable of implementing new initiatives than medium and small suppliers; and c) top-ranked key suppliers since these are more compliant and generally follow standard operating procedures, thereby facilitating the implementation of our intervention initiatives.…”

Section: Intervention Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies indicate that enhancing production capabilities through lean implementation can be a possible strategy in the garment industry to meet productivity challenges (Vijayakumar and Robinson, 2016; Wickramasinghe and Wickramasinghe, 2017). However, research suggests that although lean can improve productivity and shorten lead times, lean implementation may jeopardize OHS conditions (Jackson and Mullarkey, 2000; Lingam et al , 2015; Hamja et al , 2018). It is, therefore, an open question of whether lean implementation in supplier factories can meet the buyers' expectations of both productivity and OHS compliance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lean meeting buyer's expectations, enhanced supplier productivity and compliance capabilities in garment industry

Hoque

Hasle

Maalouf

2020

IJPPM

Self Cite

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PurposeInvestigate the potential of using “lean” in garment supplier factories to enhance productivity and compliance capability, so as to fulfill a buyer's expectation of lower price, shorter lead time, and higher occupational health and safety (OHS) standards.Design/methodology/approachBy means of an intervention, lean tools integrated with OHS elements were introduced in four Bangladeshi key garment suppliers of a Danish buyer. By employing a qualitative approach, both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to collect data on productivity, OHS, and buyer–supplier efforts.FindingsThis study demonstrates that lean tools, integrated with OHS elements, can be used to improve the productivity and compliance capabilities of supplier firms, which meet a buyers' changing demands for lower prices, shorter lead times, and higher compliance standards. This study suggests that the improvement of productivity and OHS in supplier firms through lean implementation could be a better choice for buyers than switching to new suppliers with uncertainties in productivity and delivery, as well as OHS compliance problems.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study suggest that garment suppliers can benefit from implementing lean, thereby improving their capacity to meet buyers' expectations. Therefore, both suppliers and buyers have a mutual interest in the application of lean in suppliers' production facilities.Originality/valueBy considering both buyer and supplier perspectives, this research is a unique attempt to investigate the possibilities of lean implementation at the shop-floor level to meet the market challenges in the context of a developing country.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Intervention Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lean meeting buyer's expectations, enhanced supplier productivity and compliance capabilities in garment industry

Hoque

Hasle

Maalouf

2020

IJPPM

Self Cite

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“…Despite its many advantages, lean has also been criticized in the literature for intensifying work and impairing the health and well-being of employees, even though it clearly entails both possibilities and risks for well-being in relation to its implementation (Hasle, 2014). Although studies report both positive and negative results for changes in the work environment, and in health and well-being (Edwards et al , 2010; Hamja et al , 2018; Hasle et al , 2012), few integrate the perspective of improving productivity and occupational health and safety simultaneously. Hopp (2018) therefore calls for a new discourse on lean implementation, which he refers to as positive lean.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transfer mechanisms for lean implementation with OHS integration in the garment industry

Hamja

Hasle

Hansen

2021

IJPPM

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PurposeLean manufacturing has the potential for simultaneously improving the competitiveness and the social sustainability of the apparel industry in developing countries. However, there is limited research on the ways to a successful lean implementation in developing countries and with an emphasis on occupational health and safety (OHS) improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigates four cases of lean implementation in garment factories and uses the design science research strategy, building on the context-intervention-mechanism-outcome (CIMO) framework to identify explanatory mechanisms that can be used for designing future action.FindingsThe study identifies tangible mechanisms that can lead to successful lean implementation. The most important mechanisms relate to practical top management support, worker involvement, application of lean tools and training.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can guide better lean implementation for the many garment factories in developing countries.Originality/valueWhile the lean literature provides general recommendations for lean implementation, knowledge about the transfer mechanisms in developing countries as well as the connections between lean and OHS is limited. This paper contributes to lean implementation theory and to the discourse of positive lean by integrating efficiency and working conditions. In addition, the paper identifies transfer mechanisms for lean implementation in the garment industry in a developing country.

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“…Despite having these remarkable growth and success rates, there are many challenges currently being faced by the RMG industry of Bangladesh, including ensuring minimum wages, welfare facilities, employees' morale and motivation, and labour productivity (Alam et al, 2017). To retain this growth and safeguard their existing position in the world's RMG market, there is no alternative but to increase productivity (Hamja et al, 2018). Like China, the top manufacturer and exporter of the garments are making it costly for international buyers due to high wage rates and large-scale monetary investments.…”

Section: Introduction and Motivation Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Wages and Welfare Facilities on Employee Productivity: Mediating Role of Employee Work Motivation

Alam¹,

Hassan²,

Bowyer³

et al. 2020

AABFJ

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Purpose- Garment employee productivity in Bangladesh is the lowest compared to its competitors such as China, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry will find it a challenge to survive in the global market unless they improve employee productivity. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to observe the relationship among wages and benefits, welfare facilities, employee work motivation and employee productivity. Design/Methodology/Approach- The study was conducted under the positivism philosophy for which Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory was used for framing the hypotheses. A deductive approach, explanatory research design and a quantitative methodology was followed in order to conduct the study. Through a questionnaire survey, twenty-five items were taken from existing literature to measure the variables. By a systematic probability sampling technique, 500 samples were collected from the target population. Thereafter, SPSS and SEM using Smart-PLS were utilised for analysing and developing the model. Findings- The outcome of the analysis revealed that all seven hypotheses were supported. Practical Implications- These findings will assist the policymakers, the government of Bangladesh, factory owners, managers and other stakeholders to formulate new policies and practices. Originality/Value- This study explores the relationship among wages and benefits, welfare facilities, employee work motivation and employee productivity which has not been explored theoretically and tested empirically in a Bangladeshi context. In the future, comparative research can be carried out by collecting samples from the EPZ (Export Processing Zone) and non-EPZ factories.

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Assessment of Productivity and Ergonomic Conditions at the Production Floor: An Investigation into the Bangladesh Readymade Garments Industry

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Lean meeting buyer's expectations, enhanced supplier productivity and compliance capabilities in garment industry

Lean meeting buyer's expectations, enhanced supplier productivity and compliance capabilities in garment industry

Transfer mechanisms for lean implementation with OHS integration in the garment industry

The Effects of Wages and Welfare Facilities on Employee Productivity: Mediating Role of Employee Work Motivation

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