The Effect of Supply Chain Management Practices on Operational Performances in Selected Wheat Flour Factories in Adama, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of supply chain management practice and its effect on the operational performance of selected wheat flour factories in Adama city. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used. The sample of the study was senior officers/executives in charge of SCM practice of the targeted factories who have rich experiences about the operation and management of supply chain practices in their respective factories. Those executives include general manager, production or technical manager, supply or purchasing manager, marketing manager, commercial manager, and inventory manager. The major data collection tools in this study were questionnaires and interviews. In the questionnaires, there are a set of questions included in each aspect of the SCM which were derived from extensive literature as well as the researcher’s discussion with supply chain professionals. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Accordingly, the major analysis of the findings indicates that the practice of the factories regarding their relationship with suppliers was focused on helping them to meet the factory’s needs rather than building long term stable strategic partnership. In relation to the internal integration of the factories, the finding reveals that there is a strong internal operation within the factories.

Key terms: Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Management Practice, Operational Performance, Wheat flour factories.

DOI: 10.7176/IEL/10-3-02

Publication date: November 30^th 2020