Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Materials Management on Operational Efficiency of Listed Food and Beverage Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is aimed at assessing the effect of materials management practices on operational efficiency of listed food and beverage firms in Nigeria. A descriptive and survey research designs were adopted to structure the research to show how all key variables of the research synchronize as well as to address the main research questions that were used. The population of the study was 33 Food and Beverage Firms listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE Factbook, 2019). Five (5) of such firms whose headquarters are in Port Harcourt, were purposively selected and used for the study. 150 managers, assistant managers and supervisors were purposively selected as sample size for the study. Data collected using questionnaire were analyzed using linear regression statistical tools. Findings indicate the non-acceptance of the six (6) hypotheses stated in null form leading to the conclusion that effective materials management practices have significant effect on listed food and beverage firms’ operational efficiency in Nigeria. On this basis, it was recommended that a more scientific materials management approaches and methods using software and advanced materials and other resources management technology such as visual and automatic production scheduling should be adopted by firms and staff should be well trained on the use of these advanced technologies in materials and inventory management in a bid to improve operational efficiency.

Keywords

• Operational Efficiency
• Materials
• Management
• Practices
• Food and Beverages

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