Exploring Supply Chain Efficiency: Unravelling Root Causes of Waste in Sugar Refining Operations

AXY Company is a key player in the South African agri-business sector, specializing in packaging sugar. Despite a robust legacy, the company struggles with supply chain inefficiencies, particularly in waste management. This paper investigates these inefficiencies using lean manufacturing principles, focusing on root causes and proposing solutions for enhanced supply chain performance. Through methodologies ABC analysis, significant waste was identified in the 500 g and 1 kg Stock Keeping Units (SKU’s), accounting for 79% of total material waste. Key interventions include improving material handling, enhancing quality control, and optimizing machine performance. The findings provide a roadmap for reducing waste costs and achieving operational efficiency. Future research should focus on implementing these strategies across various SKUs and enhancing supplier collaboration to further minimize waste and optimize supply chain performance.