A Holistic Modeling Framework for Operational Excellence in the Automotive Industry: An Integrated Perspective on Technical Systems and Human Dynamics
Received: 20 July 2025 | Revised: 31 July 2025 and 4 August 2025 | Accepted: 15 August 2025 | Online: 26 August 2025
Corresponding author: Mohammed Hamoumi
Abstract
This study is dedicated to the empirical evaluation and validation of the way the implementation of operational excellence practices affects the performance of companies operating in Morocco, with a focus on technical systems and human dynamics in the automotive sector and within the application of a holistic operational excellence perspective. A structured questionnaire was administered to 264 firms, yielding a 93% response rate (246 usable responses), ensuring sector representativeness. The robustness and relevance of the measurement tools were rigorously evaluated, and the statistical processing of the data was carried out using the SPSS version 28 software. Integrating technical and human aspects for operational excellence in the automotive industry, this study highlights that both "soft" (employee engagement, culture) and "hard" (basic continuous improvement tools) factors significantly impact performance. While fundamental "hard" practices are understood, advanced tools are less effectively implemented. Achieving holistic operational excellence requires a balanced investment in both human development and a wider, more effective application of improvement methodologies. This study's results, based on a holistic model integrating technical and human dimensions of operational excellence, offer practical recommendations for long-term competitive improvement. They also provide a valuable empirical basis for understanding the concrete impact factors of this integrated approach in an under-represented industrial setting, namely the Moroccan automotive industry, thereby validating existing theoretical frameworks in a specific contextual application.
Keywords:
automotive industry, operational excellence, critical success factors, critical failure factors, leadershipDownloads
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