Industrial Engineering Letters
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL
<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.04939836589619517">Industrial Engineering Letters <span id="internal-source-marker_0.04939836589619517">is a peer reviewed journal published by IISTE. The journal publishes original papers at the forefront of industrial engineering research, covering theoratical modeling, inventory, logistics, optimizations methods and their applications. The journal is published in both printed and online versions. The online version is free access and download.</span></span></p><p><span><span>IISTE is a member of <a href="http://www.crossref.org/01company/17crossref_members.html">CrossRef</a>.</span></span></p><p><span><span><span>The DOI of the journal is: https://doi.org/10.7176/IEL</span><br /></span></span></p>en-USIndustrial Engineering Letters2224-6096Journal coverpage
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/view/61970
Journal coverpageJournal Editor14Analysis of Dairy Value Chain in Jidda and Abichuf Gnea Districts of North Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/view/61971
<p>The study was initiated on analysis of dairy value chain with the objectives of examining the dairy marketing channels and efficiency. Data came from the separate survey of dairy producing households and marketing middlemen. Maximum Likelihood Estimation procedure such as logit model was employed in identifying factors affecting decision to sell dairy products, Tobit model was used in investigating factors affecting decision on volume of dairy sales. Concentration ratios and marketing margin analysis were conducted in examining efficiency. Market participation decision is affected by household demographic and socio-economic characteristics represented by distance to market and urban centers. Volume sale of dairy is affected by intellectual capital represented by distance to district capital. Un concentrated suppliers characterize dairy market; market at the next level is also un concentrated for butter and cheese but concentrated for liquid milk. The dairy processing industries enjoy the highest return while the dairy cooperative gets the lowest margin. The results suggest that production and marketable surplus should be improved and adequate marketing infrastructure like roads and transport facilities should be established between districts and rural areas in the district to support enhanced market participation. With the aim of reducing transactions cost adequate marketing link should be established between the rural producer and urban consumer through institutional arrangements, such as dairy cooperatives. Relaxing the criteria required in obtaining bank and micro credit and forming a well-functioning urban and rural financial system would enable resource poor farm households to participate in dairy market and improve its supply.<strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Keywords: </strong>North Shewa, Econometric model, Value chain and Market channel</p> <p class="Default"><strong>DOI:</strong> 10.7176/IEL/14-1-01</p> <p><strong>Publication date: </strong>January 31<sup>st</sup> 2024</p> <p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>Mengistu Jifara14Operational Innovation Practices Effect on Performance of Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Evidence from Firms in Kenya
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/view/61972
<p>The concept of firm performance was premised on operational innovations. The interplay of this factor's dimensions contributes towards the firm's performance outcome. The factors, which include innovations in the marketplace, products, processes, and technologies, make up operational innovation. Thus, achieving ultimate performance requires that the manufacturing firm remains at the market's competitive edge by applying innovative technology manifested through markets, processes, and products. This study focused on the performance of Kenyan manufacturing firms and operational innovation. Positivism criteria are used because it revolves around scientific laws and principles that increase the reliability of the investigation's findings for generalization. A descriptive research design was adopted, which entailed collecting data from many firms, and therefore was the best approach to increase the survey reliability. The number of firms involved in the study was 182, all with active Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) affiliation. The firms were put into 14 subcategories of manufacturing based on the product they manufacture. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and smart PLS4 tools were used for data analysis. Also, using regression analysis, the results revealed that operational innovation significantly influences manufacturing firms’ performance in Kenya. While looking at the effects of the dimensions of operational innovation on firm performance, the results indicated that process innovation had the most significant impact while technological innovation had the least. The outcome revealed which operational innovation is significant and should be focused by the operation managers during product design to gain competitive edge in the industry.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong>Firm Performance, Market Innovation, Operational Innovation, Process Innovation, Product Innovation.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>DOI:</strong> 10.7176/IEL/14-1-02</p> <p><strong>Publication date: </strong>January 31<sup>st</sup> 2024</p>Stephen Odock14The Role of Marketing Strategy: Brand Based for Sustainable Competitive Advantage
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/view/61973
<p>This systematic review's main objective is to offer a thorough assessment of the body of knowledge regarding the importance of marketing strategies that are based on brands and give a lasting competitive advantage. During the systematic review, the papers were filtered using the screening criteria. The review papers were pulled from the Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer, Research Gate, and Emerald databases. The paper looked at a total of 43 publications. The papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were then evaluated, and a systematic review's included papers were chosen for analysis. The examination focused on the management consequences as well as the function of branding-based marketing strategies as a sustainable competitive advantage. Following a review of the literature, we discovered that branding is important for commanding a premium price, increasing organizational performance while maintaining success through internal branding, enabling innovation through the recruitment of qualified and talented employees, operating in a sustainable manner, maintaining customer loyalty, and enabling successful IT usage. This study is significant because it provides current and pertinent general perspectives on the role of marketing strategy, which is based on a brand-based, sustainable competitive advantage. Additionally, the paper contributes to the field of management by conducting a systematic analysis of the various pieces of available literature-based evidence.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Market strategy, brand, Competitive advantage. <em> </em></p> <p class="Default"><strong>DOI:</strong> 10.7176/IEL/14-1-03</p> <p><strong>Publication date: </strong>January 31<sup>st</sup> 2024</p>Teshome Bekele Nege14Understanding Influencer Marketing: The Role of Congruence between Influencers, Products and Consumers
https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/view/61974
<p>Influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for connecting brands with their target audience in the age of digital marketing. This study examines the dynamics of influencer marketing through an analysis of 120 respondents' survey responses. The results offer a sophisticated understanding of how influencers affect the attitudes and actions of consumers. According to the study, most respondents rely their purchasing decisions on the recommendations of influencers, demonstrating the persuasive power of these individuals. The most engaging content category is found to be product reviews, highlighting the significance of authenticity in influencer marketing. The study also highlights how important it is for morals and interests to line up as well as how influencer endorsements must be genuine and transparent. The practical ramifications of these insights guide the tactics and decisions of marketers, influencers, regulatory agencies, and consumers in the always changing field of influencer marketing. This study provides a useful road map for stakeholders in this rapidly evolving industry and advances our understanding of the reach, efficacy, and ability to change consumer behavior of influencer marketing.</p> <p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Influencer Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Perception; Product Reviews; Values Alignment; Authenticity; Digital Marketing</p> <p class="Default"><strong>DOI:</strong> 10.7176/IEL/14-1-04</p> <p><strong>Publication date: </strong>January 31<sup>st</sup> 2024</p>Md. Kawsar14