Multilevel Regression Analysis for Measuring System Reliability in South African Manufacturing Plants Systems

Manufacturing plants in South Africa face complex challenges related to system reliability that impact productivity and efficiency. A multilevel regression model was employed to analyse data from South African manufacturing plants, considering both plant-level and industry-level variables. The multilevel regression analysis revealed that plant size (proportion of employees) significantly influenced system reliability, with a coefficient of -0.349 (CI: -0.512, -0.186). Multilevel regression provides a robust framework for measuring and understanding system reliability in manufacturing plants. Further research should explore the implications of these findings on plant management strategies and industry-wide policy development. Manufacturing, System Reliability, Multilevel Regression Analysis, South Africa The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.