Productivity improvement at a soft drink manufacturing company: A case study

This study was conducted to examine the impact of poor-quality management on the productivity of a beverage industry. A South African soft drinks manufacturing company was selected as a case study. The study was carried out among the employees of the company's plant and through observing equipment and wellbeing of company's facilities located in Johannesburg. A sample of 150 workers was drawn from the company, and each employee was asked questions on how productivity can be improved. The results showed that reducing quantity of inputs, such as working time, would enable the company to produce a standardized product. It was also found that proper maintenance of facilities and working equipment and employee's skill improvement would improve operations within the company. Tight supervision and special monitoring of workers have a greater impact on performance and the overall productivity of the company. Thus, the company needs to encourage hygiene and improve employee's skills to adapt to fast changing technologies, and strategies must be adopted accordingly to obtain optimum productivity of the workers and satisfy customers with quality products. By responding to the needs of this contemporary marketing environment, it was believed that it will give the company competitive advantage over its competitors.