Prioritising the practices that influence the operational performance of manufacturing organisations using hybrid ahp-topsis analysis

Abstract

Organisations cannot put their efforts equally into all the best practices that impact operational performance, due to their limited resources, their ineffective usage, government policies, and inadequate strategic planning. In this contribution, we aim to identify and prioritise the practices with the most impact on operational performance. Twelve practices that steer operational performance were identified through a literature survey. Second, the identified practices were prioritised and evaluated, based on improving operational performance by using a hybrid approach. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method were used such that AHP was applied to determine the relative weights of alternatives, and then the final ranking was obtained by conducting a TOPSIS analysis. Empirical data were collected from eight experts and 417 users at operational-level. The results suggest that lean management, total quality management, six sigma, and supply chain management practices rank 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively, signifying the practices with the most influence and making the greatest contribution. This strategic understanding will help researchers and practitioners to frame competitive strategies in order to pay more attention to those practices that have a greater influence on operational performance.

Translated abstract

Verskeie faktore lei daartoe dat organisasies nie hul toewyding eweredig aan beste praktyke kan bestee nie. Hierdie faktore sluit in: beperkte hulpbronne, en hul ondoeltreffende aanwending, regeringsbeleid en onvoldoende strategiese beplanning. Hierdie artikel poog om die praktyke wat die grootste impak op operasionele vertoning het te identifiseer en te geprioritiseer. Twaalf praktyke wat operasionele vertoning aanvoer is identifiseer deur 'n literatuurstudie. Daarna is hierdie praktyke prioritiseer en evalueer aan die hand van hul vermoë om operasionele vertoning te verbeter deur middel van 'n hibriede benadering. 'n Analitiese hiërargieproses (AHP) en die tegniek vir orde vertoning deur ooreenstemming met die ideale oplossing (TOPSIS) is gebruik. AHP het die relatiewe gewigsfaktore toegeken en die finale rangorde is met behulp van TOPSIS bepaal. Empiriese data is ingesamel van agt kundiges en 417 operasionele gebruikers. Die resultate toon dat lenige bestuur, totale gehalte bestuur, ses-sigma, en voorsieningskettingbestuur onderskeidelik die eerste tot vierde plekke beklee. Die strategiese verstaan van hierdie resultaat sal navorsers en praktisyns help om mededingende strategieë te formuleer en sorg dat hulle meer aandag aan die sleutel praktyke bestee.