LEAN MANUFACTURING SYSTEM ADOPTION AND PROFITABILITY: NIGERIAN FOOD AND BEVERAGES FIRMS POSITION

The stiff global competition has forced some firms to re-strategize and adopt fitness properties to induce incremental changes as profitability becomes a paramount focus. The study assessed lean manufacturing system adoption ability to stimulate profitability, within Nigerian food and beverage sub-sector. Emphasis was placed on waste reduction, labour optimization and inventory control to firms? profit before tax. The comparative approach emerged from ex-post-facto design pillared on quantitative data from three top players in Nigeria, pre and post-implementation of the lean process. The study found lean manufacturing to have significantly affected the profitability in Nestle and Cadbury Plc, but observed no changes in Unilever. The study recommends that lean manufacturing system be adopted after the required internal re-engineering and sensitization have been carried out in the firms to forestall resistance and embracing of the benefits accruable from its adoption.