Port Management Systems And Operational Efficiency At The Inland Container Depot - Embakasi

Abstract

In the 21st century there is global competitiveness in international trade which is becoming increasingly tougher and the need for efficiency in operations as a tool to remain competitive is essential. Ports are one of the primary components of the transportation sector and are nowadays linked to the expanding world economies. While ports (both sea ports and inland deports) hold great promise for economic prosperity of any country, operational inefficiency continue to undermine their potential. Adoption of automated systems globally is giving hope for effective and efficient operations and service delivery. In Kenya today, the scenario has been replicated but the use of Operations Management Systems have so far not achieved the desired objectives. In order to get the insight into the use of Port operations management systems, reviews of studies which several scholars had done was conducted and are used to strengthen the ideas presented in the study. The study employed a descriptive approach to study and describe the use of port operations management systems and their impact on efficiency. Structured inquiry methods were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of 45 respondents comprising of Transporters, Government Agencies and Agents operating within the Inland Container Deport (ICDE) where the study was based. Data was analyzed to determine the respondents’ view on the use of automated systems in key operations of the ICDE, including documentation, yard operations, gate operations and Rail side operations. The key findings of the research included Lack of a synchronized port operation system for all activities, lack of enough infrastructure, improper manpower management among others. Based on the findings, the study recommends that a holistic view of the entire ports operation systems with a view to improving infrastructure and port management systems in order to create an efficient working environment need to be considered.