Lean Manufacturing Implementation Barriers for Micro, Small and Medium Industries in Tanzania: Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process

With rising global competition, manufacturing industries are adopting Lean Manufacturing (LM) to stay competitive. However, LM implementation in Africa, especially among micro, small, and medium industries (MSMIs), remains low, with research estimates at just 1%. This study examines the barriers to LM implementation in Tanzanian MSMIs. Data were collected from 243 respondents using survey research and purposive sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 27.0.1, along with the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), were used for analysis. The top five LM barriers for micro industries are lack of training on LM tools, poor understanding of lean philosophy, high investment costs, lack of investment, and lack of awareness of LM benefits. Small industries face similar challenges, with training gaps, lack of investment, and poor understanding of LM ranking highest. Medium industries struggle with training deficits, lack of leadership commitment, strategic gaps, poor lean understanding, and lack of awareness of LM benefits. A significant difference exists in LM barriers among different industry levels, with most barriers showing a p-value of less than 0.05. The findings highlight that MSMIs must tailor strategies to overcome these specific obstacles for successful LM adoption.