Scope of Lean Management in Kirana stores and Supermarkets

Abstract

This paper deals with the detailed study of functioning of super markets and kirana stores in Indian context. A basic comparative study is done to analyze the scope of lean management in the same. A survey is conducted in supermarkets and kirana stores. Kirana stores often operates for a small circle wherein the customer churn rate is lesser as compared to the supermarkets. This paper deals with the analysis of various aspects of a kirana store and supermarkets which would fuel up the comparison in the context of lean. The study has focused on certain parameters which are key attributes of lean management in service sector. Which includes product replacement, shelving, waiting time at counters, product arrangement (FIFO). The concept of JIT would also help the main focus of all kirana stores and supermarkets, which is “cost minimization and profit maximization”. Wilcoxon rank test is conducted to analytically study the difference in the scope of lean application in kirana stores and supermarkets. The study deciphered the opportunity of lean in supermarkets than in kirana stores as per the limitation in the operation. The mode of operation in kirana stores has slight variations with respect to management. And hence it is difficult to commonly suggest ways to improve functions, but still sees a scope in future. The results were favorable to supermarkets, wherein lean application sounds more result oriented and suits the functioning of huge retail chain.