Supply Chain Management Practices and Sustainability Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Delta State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined supply chain management practices and sustainability performance of manufacturing firms in Delta State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and three hypotheses. The study was anchored on the Resource-Based View Theory, the Agile Supply Chain Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. While empirical review was also considered. The survey research design was used through questionnaire administration to the staff of the production, procurement, warehouse, logistics, and marketing departments of the manufacturing firms operating in Delta State, Nigeria. A sample size of 200 respondents working in different manufacturing firms in Delta State was used for the study. Data were presented in tables, and descriptive statistics mean, standard deviation, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The findings showed that there is a statistically positive and significant relationship between supply chain management variables such as procurement, outsourcing, information flow management, and order process management, and sustainability performance of manufacturing firms in Delta State, Nigeria. From the empirical findings of the study, it was concluded that supply chain management elements foster sustainability performance of manufacturing firms in Delta State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that management of manufacturing organizations should be involved in benchmarking practices for the top actors in the industry as a strategy of improving their procurement and outsourcing processes and achieving outstanding performance of their supply chains. Manufacturing organizations should focus on production and service delivery; they have the ability to outsource those tasks to other firms that can do them better.