Material Requirement Planning and Supply Chain Performance of Oil and Gas Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between material requirement planning and supply chain performance of Oil and Gas firms in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted an explanatory research design with a causal type of investigation. Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were used to obtain relevant data for analysis. The instrument of data collection employed was the questionnaire. The study population comprised of two hundred and ninety-three (293) oil and gas servicing firms operating in Rivers State as enlisted in the Nigerian oil and gas industry annual report (2020). The sample size for the study comprised 149 oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamene formula. Furthermore, the researcher selected one management staff from each of the oil and gas firms operating in Rivers State as respondents for the study hence a total of one hundred and forty nine (149) respondents were used for the study. The data was analyzed using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation statistic through the aid of statistical packages for social science version 23.0. Findings: The result of the study revealed the existence of significant and positive relationship between material requirement planning and supply chain performance of oil and gas firms in Rivers State. Recommendation: The researcher concluded that material requirement planning affect supply chain performance of oil and gas firms in Rivers state and therefore recommended that managers of oil and gas firms should strategically manage their material and inventory processes in other to improve their supply chain performance.

ROLE OF ORDER FULFILLMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN KENYA

Purpose: The main purpose of the study was determine role order fulfillment on performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya.Methodology: A descriptive research design was used. The target population of the study were managers or equivalent from Six (6) departments that is Procurement, finance, legal, stores, human resource and quality control because they are directly concerned with supply chain. The study adopted the use of a questionnaire and a document analysis as the main research instrument. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches, implying that both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed. Quantitative data collected from the document analysis was analyzed statistically using the Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS version 22). The study tested the significance level of each independent variable against the dependent variable at 95% confidence level using ANOVA, Correlation and regression techniques.Findings: The findings showed that order fulfillment has a positive and significant effect on firm performance, 0.723, p < 0.05.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: There is need to put in place review teams that constantly review the strategies with the view to improve them for increased effectiveness. Effective cost reduction mechanisms, combined with a well-structured organizational policy on procurement and supply chain management practices will eliminate the notion of having multiple suppliers to mitigate for unsatisfactory service.

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF RELIEF AID ORGANIZATIONS IN WESTERN UGANDA

Purpose-The paper presents the influence of managerial competencies on supply chain performance of relief aid organizations in western Uganda.Methods-The study employed a cross-sectional and quantitative research design comprising 105 relief aid organizations operating in western Uganda. Data was analyzed using SPSSv22, to generate descriptive statistics, run correlation and hierarchical regression analysis.Findings-The findings showed a positive significant influence of managerial competencies on supply chain performance of relief aid organizations in western Uganda. Limitations-The study did not examine the influence of other factors such as the other supply chain enablers which include infrastructure on humanitarian supply chain performance. The focus was on the influence of managerial competencies on supply chain performance.Unique contribution to practice and policy- relief aid organizations should emphasize attracting, training and retaining staff with professional, social and personal competencies to ensure efficient delivery of relief supplies.

CUSTOMER PERCEPTION ON THE OVERALL QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERED A CASE STUDY OF THE ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA (ECG)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain customer perception on the overall quality of service delivered by ECG Methodology: The study adopted an explanatory research design in order to achieve the study objectives. The population for this research was made up of the employees of ECG and the customers of ECG, who were systematically sampled. Data was then analyzed through descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Science. The study employed descriptive statistics, multivariate data analysis as well as regression modelsResults: The study found out that customers perceived the quality of services being offered by the energy company as unsatisfying.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: To improve service quality, ECG would have to isolate the dimensions that were noted to be weak; being empathy and responsiveness. These may be addressed by professional training and retraining front line personnel and technical rapid response teams to address the concerns of customers with urgency and a human face

INFLUENCE OF MULTICHANNEL SUPPLY CHAINS NETWORKS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED RETAIL FASHION OUTLETS IN NAIROBI

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to investigate the influence of multichannel retailing networks on the performance of selected fashion outlets in Nairobi.Methodology: The researcher used a descriptive research design, and the population and area of study was drawn from sampled outlets within Nairobi. The studies adopted stratified random sampling technique from the target population, as well as carried out a pilot study to pretest and validate the questionnaire. Multiple regression models were used to find out the importance of each of the four variables with reverence to the influence of multichannel retailing networks on the performance of selected fashion outlets in Nairobi.Results: Data analysis revealed that shopping experience was important in explaining performance. This is supported by a p value of 0.01 which means that shopping experience is a statistically significant predictor of performance. Findings also revealed that distribution channel is important in determining performance as demonstrated by a p value of 0.00 and a beta coefficient of 0.468.this implied that distribution channel was a statistically significant predictor of performance. Findings also indicated that organization structure was important in determining performance as demonstrated by a p value of 0.000 and a beta coefficient of 0.352. Findings reveal that capital was important in explaining performance. This was supported by a p value of 0.03 and a beta coefficient of 0.107 which means that capital was a statistically significant predictor of performance.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that the management of retail fashion outlets in Nairobi to conduct a market survey in order to establish the optimal shopping experience levels in order to reach out to more customers’ and hence achieve high performance.

EFFECT OF INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE AMONG AGRI-MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN RWANDA

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determines the effect of Internal Environment Management Practices on Supply Chain Performance among Agri-Manufacturing Firms in RwandaMethodology: This study employed both cross-sectional and explanatory research design and is in line with positivism approach. The target population was 567 top and middle employees in supply chain department from 67 Agri-Manufacturing Firms. Stratified and simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 226. This study collected both secondary and primary data, but mainly primary data using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed with the aid of SPSS version 22.0 (Hayes and Matthes, 2009) using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypothesis 1 to 4 was tested using multiple regression model, while hypothesis 5 was tested using hierarchical regression.Results: Findings showed that internal environmental management positively and significantly influences supply chain performanceUnique contribution to Theory and Practice: It is therefore important for both the senior managers and mid – level managers to be committed and supportive of GSCM. Besides that, there is need for the firm to have total quality environmental management and ISO 14001 for environmental compliance. As well, having a team within the firm that is tasked with environmental improvements will go a long way in enhancing supply chain performance

The implications of covid-19 on the shipping/oil tanker market.

Purpose: This aims at analyzing the implications of covid-19 on the shipping/oil tanker market. Methodology: In order to attain the aim of this study, findings and data are curated from existing literatures, documents, policies, etc. This implies that desk review is the methodology applied in this study where the researcher made use of secondary sources of data as against primary source of data. Findings: In the study, it was found that covid-19 brought about a shortage in the rate of demands for good thereby causing an unbalance in the rate of supply over demand at a time which directly brought about a huge decline in shipping/oil tanker transportation. The study also found that irrespective of the huge decline in the rate of shipping/oil tanker transportation brought about by low demand in comparison with supply; shipping/oil tanker was patronized by dealers for the purpose of storage of products. Also, the study found that seaborne trade fell downward from above 3% to below a negative 8% and at a bdp rate of 100m, the demand was 3% higher than the global supply which in 2019 was at about 97%. However, in the second quarter of 2020 the supply leads demand at over 28M bdp and a 13% increase in the demand year-on-year when compared to a fall of 3.9% in the supply year-on-year. Recommendation: The study recommends that appropriate forecasting methods and proper liaison with global health will aid in averting or ameliorating the risks and negative impacts brought on shipping/oil tanker market by covid-19.

INFLUENCE OF TENDERING PROCESSES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND PROJECTS A CASE STUDY OF BOMET EAST CONSTITUENCY, BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of tendering processes on the performance of National Government constituency development fund projects.Methodology: The study adopted a case study design to achieve in-depth understanding of the constituency while drawing inference on similar situations in other constituencies in Kenya. The study targeted 359 projects of various types across the constituency. However, for efficiency and accessibility, a sample of 60 projects were selected using stratified random sampling where the different categories of projects form the strata from which samples were selected. The study employed three tools to collect data; questionnaire, interviews and record analysis review. These tools were appropriate due to the nature of data which ranged from opinions, structured data and reports on project implementation. Interviews were conducted with sub-county based officers to get in- depth information on the challenges faced by NG-CDF projects particularly those that relate to procurement. The study adopted descriptive statistics to analyze data which is presented by use of bar graphs, pie charts and tables.Findings: The study established that, there is indeed a relationship between tendering processes and project performance; 47% of the projects under study that were initiated during period delayed due to factors associated with tendering processes; Similarly, 49% of the projects studied experienced cost escalations during the implementation period. 60% had to be redone at certain stages of project implementation. Further the study established that the effects of faulty processes included: late deliveries; non-purchase of required items; escalation of procurement budget; delivery of small quantities; delivery of wrong material sizes; non-delivery of ordered items; overpricing among others.Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends the need to enhance supplier performance through; cross-functional team working of relevant county and national government departments, focused supplier development processes which includes training through continuous exposure to relevant regulatory requirements and improvement in the quality of Project Management Committee membership devoid of political inclinations.

LEAN MANUFACTURING PRACTICES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF SUGAR MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN WESTERN KENYA

Introduction: Western Kenya is the largest producer of sugar in Kenya, supporting about 170,000 smallholder farming households and contributing about 80 percent of the total sugar produced in Kenya. This contribution is however threatened given that the sugar firms in that region are producing sub optimally with obsolete technology. Comparing to related sector, other firms in Kenya such as the tea manufacturing firms have implemented energy efficiency practices so as to manage energy wastage and reduce production costs. Were they to employ effective production methods, they could increase their production significantly. While that is the case, scholars have suggested that adoption of lean manufacturing practices is a panacea to quality addition and waste minimization. Perhaps what these firms need are lean practices. Purpose: This study interrogated the extent to which the firms have adopted lean manufacturing practices, just-in-time and total quality control and if they have, its effect on supply chain performance. Methodology: The study targeted and conducted a census on the 11 sugar manufacturing firms in the Western Kenya belt where the procurement managers, line managers, finance managers, production managers, production engineers, quality assurance officers and operations managers of each of the 11 firms (total 87) were targeted. The study employed a descriptive research design to collect quantitative data. Quantitative primary data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences. Findings: The findings of the study indicated that the just in time productionand total quality control are positively and significantly associated with supply chain performance of the sugar manufacturing firms. Unique Contribution to Practice and Policy: The study recommended adoption of just in time production practices such as availing labor on demand in order to manage labor costs, availing resources on demand in order to manage wastage, production on demand in order to manage inventory costs, ordering raw materials from the suppliers only when there is demand for production from customers, having a simplified production design to ensure timely production and having multiple skilled workers to ensure faster production. In addition, in order for the sugar manufacturing firms to increase supply chain performance, there is need to adopt total quality control practices such as having manageable defect prevention costs related to quality planning, putting in place manageable defect prevention costs related to investment in quality related information systems, having manageable appraisal costs related to test and inspection of purchased materials, having manageable appraisal costs related to quality audits, having controllable internal failure costs related to reworks and having manageable internal failure costs related to scrap.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCT VALUE CREATION: A PANACEA FOR ENHANCING COMPANY’S PROFITABILITY

towards enhancing company’s profitability. The specific objectives were to examine the effect of raw material sources, manufacturing and logistics as metrics of supply chain management on company’s profitability through product value creation. Methodology: The study utilized survey research design. Primary source such as questionnaire response was used to proof the originality of the study. The population of the study comprised of marketing, purchasing and supply and management, top and middle staffs working in the three selected manufacturing companies in Nigeria includes Uniliver Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc, all the headquarters situated in South-West, Nigeria. The study utilized convenience sampling technique to drawn sample of 235 and all respondents were used for the study. 5-point likert scale options of structured questionnaire were used in the study to obtain respondents response. Content validity was used to determine the validity of the instrument and the value of the test of reliability was 0.87 which was calculated using test-retest reliability method. Simple linear regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Findings: Three hypotheses were tested in line with the objectives of the study and it was revealed that raw material sources, manufacturing and logistics as metrics of supply chain management have significant effect on company’s profitability through product value creation. Recommendations: The study suggested some recommendations as follows: Manufacturing company’s manager should establish a favorable relationship with suppliers in order to source the right quality and quantity of raw material that create value to company’s product, Manager should involve in proper planning of both human and material resources to showcase the effectiveness of supply chain management in the business organization and manufacturing activities should be paramount among manufacturing firms for efficient transformation of raw material to finished product. Better coordination of manufacturing activities necessitates product value creation