This study examines manufacturing systems in Ugandan plants to evaluate their cost-effectiveness through a randomized field trial. A randomized field trial was conducted across multiple Ugandan plants. The study employed statistical analysis using a linear regression model (eta₀ + eta₁X) to measure the impact of various interventions on costs. Robust standard errors were used for inference, ensuring the reliability of cost-effectiveness assessments. The findings revealed that implementing lean manufacturing principles reduced production costs by approximately 25% in randomly selected plants. Specifically, a significant decrease (p < 0. 01) was observed in material handling expenses. This randomized field trial demonstrated the efficacy of lean manufacturing strategies in Ugandan industries, providing concrete evidence for cost reduction and efficiency improvements. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Ugandan manufacturers adopt lean manufacturing practices to enhance their operational efficiency and reduce costs.
Nyangwaga et al. (Sun,) studied this question.