Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa

Kenneth Mathu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa

Kenneth Mathu

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 10, Issue 1)

Received: 15 February 2021 Accepted: 8 March 2021 Published: 17 March 2021

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Abstract

The supply chain management strategy adoption by enterprises in the last four decades, has made enterprises more customer-centric, as they focus on product flow from source to the ultimate end-user. Consequently, the phrase ‘customer is king’ has become synonymous with good customer service. The study explored the coordinated supply chain processes as a competitive advantage for the South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The study was grounded in the theory of competitive advantage and qualitative research methodology and constructivism research paradigm were used. The SMEs from Gauteng province, which is the South Africa’s leading economic hub provided the sample for the study. Non-probability sampling was used in selecting the participants of the study who were the owner/managers of the SMEs. The interview covered enterprise relationship with suppliers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and third-party logistics (3PL) transportation service. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via content analysis to determine the outcome of the study. The results indicated that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through savings on 3PL transportation service optimisation shared amongst the SMEs, and improved customer service, through enhanced supplier-customer relationship that maintained continuous flow of products/services.

Published in	Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
Page(s)	33-38
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Competitive Advantage, FMCGs, Grocery SMEs, SCM, 3PL

References

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APA Style

Kenneth Mathu. (2021). Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 10(1), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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ACS Style

Kenneth Mathu. Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2021, 10(1), 33-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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AMA Style

Kenneth Mathu. Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. J Energy Nat Resour. 2021;10(1):33-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14,
  author = {Kenneth Mathu},
  title = {Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {33-38},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20211001.14},
  abstract = {The supply chain management strategy adoption by enterprises in the last four decades, has made enterprises more customer-centric, as they focus on product flow from source to the ultimate end-user. Consequently, the phrase ‘customer is king’ has become synonymous with good customer service. The study explored the coordinated supply chain processes as a competitive advantage for the South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The study was grounded in the theory of competitive advantage and qualitative research methodology and constructivism research paradigm were used. The SMEs from Gauteng province, which is the South Africa’s leading economic hub provided the sample for the study. Non-probability sampling was used in selecting the participants of the study who were the owner/managers of the SMEs. The interview covered enterprise relationship with suppliers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and third-party logistics (3PL) transportation service. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via content analysis to determine the outcome of the study. The results indicated that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through savings on 3PL transportation service optimisation shared amongst the SMEs, and improved customer service, through enhanced supplier-customer relationship that maintained continuous flow of products/services.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa
AU  - Kenneth Mathu
Y1  - 2021/03/17
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 33
EP  - 38
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
AB  - The supply chain management strategy adoption by enterprises in the last four decades, has made enterprises more customer-centric, as they focus on product flow from source to the ultimate end-user. Consequently, the phrase ‘customer is king’ has become synonymous with good customer service. The study explored the coordinated supply chain processes as a competitive advantage for the South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The study was grounded in the theory of competitive advantage and qualitative research methodology and constructivism research paradigm were used. The SMEs from Gauteng province, which is the South Africa’s leading economic hub provided the sample for the study. Non-probability sampling was used in selecting the participants of the study who were the owner/managers of the SMEs. The interview covered enterprise relationship with suppliers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and third-party logistics (3PL) transportation service. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via content analysis to determine the outcome of the study. The results indicated that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through savings on 3PL transportation service optimisation shared amongst the SMEs, and improved customer service, through enhanced supplier-customer relationship that maintained continuous flow of products/services.
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Kenneth Mathu

Department of Transport Economics and Logistics Management, School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North West University, Mahikeng, South Africa

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APA Style

Kenneth Mathu. (2021). Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 10(1), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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ACS Style

Kenneth Mathu. Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2021, 10(1), 33-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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AMA Style

Kenneth Mathu. Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa. J Energy Nat Resour. 2021;10(1):33-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14,
  author = {Kenneth Mathu},
  title = {Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {33-38},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20211001.14},
  abstract = {The supply chain management strategy adoption by enterprises in the last four decades, has made enterprises more customer-centric, as they focus on product flow from source to the ultimate end-user. Consequently, the phrase ‘customer is king’ has become synonymous with good customer service. The study explored the coordinated supply chain processes as a competitive advantage for the South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The study was grounded in the theory of competitive advantage and qualitative research methodology and constructivism research paradigm were used. The SMEs from Gauteng province, which is the South Africa’s leading economic hub provided the sample for the study. Non-probability sampling was used in selecting the participants of the study who were the owner/managers of the SMEs. The interview covered enterprise relationship with suppliers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and third-party logistics (3PL) transportation service. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via content analysis to determine the outcome of the study. The results indicated that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through savings on 3PL transportation service optimisation shared amongst the SMEs, and improved customer service, through enhanced supplier-customer relationship that maintained continuous flow of products/services.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Supply Chain Management as a Competitive Advantage of Fast Moving Consumer Goods SMEs in South Africa
AU  - Kenneth Mathu
Y1  - 2021/03/17
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 33
EP  - 38
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20211001.14
AB  - The supply chain management strategy adoption by enterprises in the last four decades, has made enterprises more customer-centric, as they focus on product flow from source to the ultimate end-user. Consequently, the phrase ‘customer is king’ has become synonymous with good customer service. The study explored the coordinated supply chain processes as a competitive advantage for the South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The study was grounded in the theory of competitive advantage and qualitative research methodology and constructivism research paradigm were used. The SMEs from Gauteng province, which is the South Africa’s leading economic hub provided the sample for the study. Non-probability sampling was used in selecting the participants of the study who were the owner/managers of the SMEs. The interview covered enterprise relationship with suppliers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and third-party logistics (3PL) transportation service. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via content analysis to determine the outcome of the study. The results indicated that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through savings on 3PL transportation service optimisation shared amongst the SMEs, and improved customer service, through enhanced supplier-customer relationship that maintained continuous flow of products/services.
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download