Supply Chain Integration and Operational Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

This investigation focused on supply chain integration and how it is linked with operational performance of the manufacturing entities in Mogadishu, Somalia. The specific focus of the inquiry was on extent of supply chain integration and how this is linked with operational performance. The investigation leveraged on descriptive survey design targeting 52 manufacturing entities with use of census where data was gathered from first hand sources. Processing of the gathered views of the participants was done as supported by descriptive and inferential statistics. It was noted that supplier integration had the largest contribution towards operational performance followed by customer integration and then internal integration. The study concluded that supply chain integration significantly contributes towards operational performance of the firm. The study recommended that the policy makers of the manufacturing firms in Mogadishu should give more weight on supplier integration followed by customer integration and then internal integration. The procurement and supply chain managers of the manufacturing firms in Mogadishu should focus more on suppliers and customers since this would significantly enhance operational performance. The study was limited by some challenges that impaired the spread of Covid-19 pandemic so that it was difficult to meet all the required respondents since most of them were affected by Corona and they were working from their homes. The study recommends further studies to focus on Supply chain integration in other industries and thus meaningful generalization of the findings.

Key words: Supply chain integration, Operational performance, Manufacturing firms