Equipment Maintenance Management and Organizational Productivity: A Case Study of United Africa Company of Nigeria Plc, Lagos State

Abstract

This study examined the nexus between equipment maintenance management and organizational productivity, with United Africa Company of Nigeria Plc (UACN), Lagos State, serving as the case study. In today’s highly competitive and technologically driven business environment, effective equipment maintenance is indispensable for sustaining uninterrupted production processes, minimizing operational downtime, and enhancing overall efficiency. Despite its importance, many Nigerian organizations exhibit weak maintenance cultures characterized by reactive rather than proactive systems, which negatively impacts productivity and increases operational costs. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study sampled 310 employees across management, technical, and administrative cadres through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.86, ensuring internal consistency, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that preventive maintenance (Mean = 3.87, SD = 1.12) and corrective maintenance (Mean = 3.88, SD = 1.18) were strongly practiced, whereas technology adoption (Mean = 3.61, SD = 1.26) and staff training (Mean = 3.60, SD = 1.22) remained underdeveloped. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant influence of maintenance practices on productivity (R = 0.842, R² = 0.709, Adjusted R² = 0.704, F = 148.62, p < 0.001). Funding for maintenance (β = 0.341, p < 0.0001), preventive maintenance (β = 0.312, p < 0.0001), and timely repair/replacement (β = 0.298, p < 0.0001) emerged as key determinants. The study concludes that equipment maintenance is a strategic driver of productivity in Nigerian manufacturing firms and recommends strengthening preventive systems, investing in human capacity development, and adopting technology-enabled approaches to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.