Effect of Material Handling Practices on Supply Chain Efficiency of Flour Processing Firms in Eldoret
Abstract
The storage of goods and distributions from the same warehouses are done haphazardly that is without any order, theft cases have been on the rise giving a compromise on the general ethics of workers. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of material handling practices on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret .The study was guided by the following theories; Queuing theory, Agency cost theory, Reinforcement theory and Lean theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study was based on flour processing firms in Eldoret town, in Uasin Gishu County. The target population of this study comprised of the branch managers, store clerks, procurement staff, finance staff and logistics staff of the flour processing firms in Eldoret. The overall accessible population for the study was 77 employees from the selected flour processing firms in Eldoret. The study collected quantitative data and therefore quantitative analysis was adopted to achieve the objectives of the study. The data collection instrument was the questionnaire. The study conducted pilot study at Kitale millers processing firm in Kitale. The study found reliability of the instrument of 0.802 which was reliable for the study. The study found out that materials handling practices (β1 = 0.319, p<0.05), have positive and statically significant effect on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret town Kenya. The study found a positive influence of material handling practices on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret, Kenya. Material handling is an indispensable element in most production and distribution systems and has adverse effects on performance of organizations. Mechanical devices and machines are necessary for many material handling operations. The study recommends for the enhancement stock control and the workforce needs external guidance with regard to stock control
Key Words: Material Handling Practices, Supply Chain Efficiency& Flour Processing Firms
The storage of goods and distributions from the same warehouses are done haphazardly that is without any order, theft cases have been on the rise giving a compromise on the general ethics of workers. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of material handling practices on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret .The study was guided by the following theories; Queuing theory, Agency cost theory, Reinforcement theory and Lean theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study was based on flour processing firms in Eldoret town, in Uasin Gishu County. The target population of this study comprised of the branch managers, store clerks, procurement staff, finance staff and logistics staff of the flour processing firms in Eldoret. The overall accessible population for the study was 77 employees from the selected flour processing firms in Eldoret. The study collected quantitative data and therefore quantitative analysis was adopted to achieve the objectives of the study. The data collection instrument was the questionnaire. The study conducted pilot study at Kitale millers processing firm in Kitale. The study found reliability of the instrument of 0.802 which was reliable for the study. The study found out that materials handling practices (β1 = 0.319, p<0.05), have positive and statically significant effect on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret town Kenya. The study found a positive influence of material handling practices on supply chain efficiency of flour processing firms in Eldoret, Kenya. Material handling is an indispensable element in most production and distribution systems and has adverse effects on performance of organizations. Mechanical devices and machines are necessary for many material handling operations. The study recommends for the enhancement stock control and the workforce needs external guidance with regard to stock control
Key Words: Material Handling Practices, Supply Chain Efficiency& Flour Processing Firms
References
Chang, H., Tsai, Y. & Hsu, C. (2013). E-Procurement and Supply Chain Performance. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 18
Cousins, & Lamming. (2012). Strategic Supply Management: Principles, Theories and Practice.
Prentice Hall Financial
Edwin S., Florence M. (2015). The Effect of Inventory Management on Profitability of Cement Manufacturing Companies in Kenya: A Case Study of Listed Cement Manufacturing Companies in Kenya. International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations, 5(13), 63-72.
Elsayed, (2015). Exploring the relationship between efficiency of inventory management and firm performance: An empirical research. International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 21(11), 73–86.
Eroglu, C., & Hofer, C. (2011). Lean, leaner, too lean? The Inventory Performance Link Revisited.
Journal of Operations Management, 14(29), 356–369
Gimenez, C. & Tachizawa, EM. (2012) Extending Sustainability to Suppliers: A Systematic Literature Review. Supply Chain Management International Journal, 17(24), 531–543.
Giunipero, L.C., Hooker, R.E. & Densloe, D. (2012). Purchasing and Supply Management Sustainability: Drivers and barriers. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 18(4), 258-269
Gupta, S. & Gupta, S. (2012). Effective Inventory Visibility- Its Impact on Profitability.
International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, 4 (39), 59-60
Hau, T. and Omar, K., (2015). The Impact of Training on Organization Performance: A Study of Hotel Sector in Terengganu, Malaysia. Journal of Management, 3(11), 87-94.
Hussain, M. (2011). Modelling the Enablers and Alternatives for Sustainable Supply Chain Management. Business and Economics Journal, 8(5), 53-30.
Imna, M. & Hassan, Z. (2015). Influence of Human Resource Management practices on Employee Retention in Maldives Retail Industry. International Journal of Accounting, Business and Management, 1(1), 1-12.
Kanwal, S. (2015). Impact of Employees’ Training on Organizational Development: A Case of Pakistan. The International Journal of Business & Management, 3(11), 102-115.
Kathurima, R. I., Ombul, K. & Iravo, M. A. (2016). Effects of Materials Handling Systems on Performance of Cement Manufacturing Firms in Machakos County. International Academic Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 2(1), 21-36
Kisioya, D. K., & Moronge, M. (2019). Influence of Material Handling Practices on Performance of Large Scale Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6(4), 745 – 760
Milan, S. G. & Vieira, B. G. (2011) Materials Handling Management: A Case Study. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management 4 (2), 19 – 30.
Mugenda, O. M. & Mugenda, A. G. (2016). Research Methods. Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches.
Mwebi, J. O. (2013). Information and Communications Technology and Operational Efficiency in Supermarkets in Nairobi. Journal of Business Management, 23(14), 67-78.
Otiso, K. N., Chelangat, D., & Bonuke, R. (2012). Improving the Quality of Customer Service through ICT Use in the Kenya Power and Lighting Company. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, 3(5), 461-466.
Pong, R. & Mitchell, M. (2012). Inventory Investment & Control: How have UK Companies been Doing? British Accounting Review, 173–188
Sahari, S., Tinggi, M. & Kadri, N. (2012). Inventory Management in Malaysian Construction Firms: Impact on Performance. Journal of Management, 4(2), 9-19.
