Process Innovation and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Rivers state

This study examined Process Innovation and performance of manufacturing firms in Rivers state, Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) metrics and Lean – Six sigma performance dash board were used as dimension of process innovation while productivity was used as measure of performance of manufacturing firms in Rivers state. It adopted cross sectional research design with a. correlational inquiry type. The population used in the study was 850 permanent employees of 28 registered manufacturing firms residing in Rivers State whereas the sample size is 120 respondents. The stratified random sampling technique was used. A total of 120 copies of the questionnaire were handed out with survey method. Univariate and Bivariate inferential statistics of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was adopted. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used to perform all of the statistical analyses. The findings suggest a very strong correlation between Additive manufacturing metrics, Lean-Six-Sigma performance dashboards and productivity in manufacturing firm in Rivers State. The study concluded that there is a positive and significant correlation relationship between process innovation and performance of manufacturing firms in Rivers State. It was recommended that (i). Managers of manufacturing firms in Rivers State should increase the use of Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) metrics, in order to increase productivity. ii. Management of manufacturing firms in Rivers State should regularly organise regular training for their employees in the use of Lean-Six-Sigma performance dashboards, a means of in-view of tracking product defect rates, cycle-time reduction and wastes perspectives. iii. Manufacturing firms in Rivers State need to utilise artificial intelligence (AI)-driven predictive Maintenance Metrics for efficient and unhindered production process.