Critical Success Factors for Implementing Operational Excellence in Morocco's Automotive Industry

Operational Excellence (OpEx) has become a cornerstone of modern industry, prompting numerous manufacturing companies, particularly in the Moroccan automotive sector, to adopt it to optimize costs and maximize profits. However, the lack of prior studies on OpEx implementation often leads to significant obstacles. This research aims to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing OpEx in Moroccan automotive companies. By doing so, it seeks to maximize the chances of success and evaluate the impact of OpEx before its widespread deployment. Based on theoretical and practical knowledge of OpEx CSFs and considering cultural factors, this study presents the results of an exploratory research. A questionnaire was developed, validated, and distributed to 265 individuals in various managerial positions across all Moroccan automotive companies, with an 93% response rate. This study fills a significant gap in the literature by examining, on a large scale, the adoption and integration of the OpEx approach within Moroccan automotive companies, thus contributing significantly to academics, OpEx practitioners, and performance optimization researchers.