Firm’s Competitiveness through Supply Chain Responsiveness and Supply Chain Management Practices in Nigeria

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is management of material, money, men, and information within and across the supply chain to maximize customer satisfaction and to enhance competitive advantage. However, the characterization of the current business practices by variation in demands and differences in customer requirements has motivated many firms to be responsive. In the light of this, the paper examines how these firms respond to these changes so as sustain and further create competitive advantages. One hundred and fifteen (115) manufacturing companies, basically medium/large companies formed the sample of the study and data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The result revealed positive association between Supply Chain Responsiveness (SCR), SCM practices and Competitive Advantage. Finally, the study provides suitable recommendation on the scope for improvement based on current levels of various predominant SCM practices and SCR criteria that directly impact competitive advantage of a firm, so as to make the organizations more competitive. Key words: Supply Chain Practices, Responsiveness, Competitive Advantage, Information Sharing.

Driving factor of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices in Malaysia

An increased demand has been placed on the manufacturing industries to be more responsible to their environment with respect to their operational activities.This demand is due to various antecedent factors driving sustainable environmental practices in manufacturing firms. This study therefore, investigated the factors that drive the sustainable environmental practices in Malaysian manufacturing sector. Survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 103 manufacturing firms and was analyzed using PLS path modelling technique. The result of the study found that top management commitment and stakeholder pressure significantly influence sustainable environmental manufacturing practices while public concern did not show significant evidence

Moderating role of perceived benefit between sustainable environmental manufacturing practices and firm performance

The need to maintain a balance between the developmental and environmental issues in manufacturing firms is required to ensure that the cost of environmental changes does not negate the economic benefits perceived by the firms.Therefore, this study investigated the effect of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices on firm performance via the moderating effect of perceived benefits.The study used a survey questionnaire which was posted to the operation, manufacturing manager and the environmental, health and safety manager to collect 103 data from the Malaysian manufacturing firms.The data collected was analyzed with smartPLS 2. M3.The study found that sustainable environmental manufacturing practices significantly influence environmental performance, while perceived benefits moderates between sustainable environmental manufacturing practices and operational performance. The study has revealed the understanding of the scenario of sustainable manufacturing practices in a developing country as yet to be considered as a strategic factor.Therefore, it is suggested that more awareness should be created to enlighten the manufacturing practitioners not only to perceive sustainable environmental practices as ethical, but also as a strategic factor to enhance achieving better firm performance

Driving factor of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices in Malaysia

An increased demand has been placed on the manufacturing industries to be more responsible to their environment with respect to their operational activities.This demand is due to various antecedent factors driving sustainable environmental practices in manufacturing firms. This study therefore, investigated the factors that drive the sustainable environmental practices in Malaysian manufacturing sector.Survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 103 manufacturing firms and was analyzed using PLS path modelling technique.The result of the study found that top management commitment and stakeholder pressure significantly influence sustainable environmental manufacturing practices while public concern did not show significant evidence

Sustainable environmental manufacturing practice (SEMP) and firm performance: Moderating role of environmental regulation

Theoretical evidence shows that a considerable amount of attention has been given to environmental issues in academic researches in the past years and the link between sustainable environmental practices and firm performance remains inconclusive.One of the reasons for this inconsistent relationship is due to the increasing regulatory requirements of the environmental sustainable practices which have become increasingly stringent on yearly basis.This study investigates the moderating effect of environmental regulation on the relationship between sustainable environmental manufacturing practices and firm performance. Data was collected by using a mail survey questionnaire from the manufacturing companies in Malaysia and analyzed with PLS-SEM.The result of the empirical investigation found that environmental regulation only moderates the relationship between SEMP and environmental performance.The relationships between SEMP; and financial and operational performance were not significantly moderated by stringent environmental regulation.The study recommends that environmental policy makers should revisit the blueprint about environmental regulation on environmental practices to provide supportive environmental policies that will enhance a better financial and operational performance in manufacturing industry

Earthworm metallothionein production as biomarker of heavy metal pollution in abattoir soil

The direct response of animals to environmental challenges, such as the production of biomarkers, is a better tool to assess environmental pollution than the conventional methods. In this study, the production of metallothionein (MT) in earthworms (Libyodrilus violaceous, Eudrilus eugeniae and Alma millsoni) was measured as tool for assessing heavy metal pollution in abattoir soil. Earthworm and abattoir soil samples were collected from three abattoir sites (Lafenwa, Gbonogun and Madojutimi) and a control site located beside an undisturbed stream located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in South-western Nigeria. Heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Mn) and MT concentrations were measured in the earthworm tissue and abattoir soil using standard methods. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Mn were highest in the tissue of earthworms obtained from Lafenwa abattoir. The Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs) for all the metals tested for were less than unity, except for Cd which had a BAF > 1. The MT concentrations recorded in the earthworm samples from the Gbonogun and Lafenwa abattoir sites were significantly higher (p � 0.05) than in earthworms from Madojutimi. The lowest MT concentration was recorded in earthworms from the control. Significant (p � 0.05) positive correlations were observed between MT and heavy metal concentrations in all earthworm species indicating that MT concentrations can be used as biomarker of heavy metal pollution in abattoir soil

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in earthworms collected from abattoir soils in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria

Activities in abattoirs and direct release of its waste into the environment are on the increase due to high protein demand in the country; and there is a need for proper assessment of abattoir soil for pollution. This study evaluated bioaccumulations of heavy metals in indigenous earthworm from abattoir soils as a measure of pollution. Five replicates each of earthworms, soil and cow dung samples were collected from three abattoir sites (Lafenwa, Gbonogun and Madojutimi) in Abeokuta, Ogun State and a control site (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Arboretrum) beside an undisturbed stream with no cow dung. Samples were collected at 1m interval from sampling point at each site. Heavy Metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Mn) concentrations were measured in the earthworm species (Libyodrilus violaceus, Eudrilus eugeniae and Alma millsoni), soil and cow dung samples from the sites using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Some physico-chemical parameters (pH and percentage organic matter) of the soil and cow dung from the sample sites were also assessed using standard methods. The heavy metals concentrations, pH and the percentage organic matter recorded in the cow dung of all the abattoir locations were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the concentrations in their respective soil samples. Lafenwa abattoir had the highest concentrations of heavy metals and percentage organic matter (4.57 ± 0.06) in its soil. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Mn were highest in the tissue of earthworm species obtained from Lafenwa abattoir. The bioaccumulation factors for the metals analysed were less than unity except for Cd. Libyodrilus violaceus, Eudrilus eugeniae and Alma millsoni bioaccumulate heavy metals from the abattoir soils and the accumulation is directly related to the concentration of such heavy metals in the soil. Indigenous earthworms are a good bioindicator of pollution for heavy metals

Frequencies of feet feathering and comb type genes in the nigerian local chicken

Incidence of feet feathering condition, different comb types and the relative frequencies of the genes affecting these conditions were studied in 2030 local chickens. 14.78% of the local chicken surveyed had feathered feet, while 85.22% had non feathered feet. The single comb type was the commonest of the comb type observed in the chickens surveyed. 94.73% of the chickens had single comb, while 3.20% and 2.07% had rose and pea combs respectively. The estimated gene frequency for fish allele affecting feet feathering in the breed was 0.08, while its recessive allele, fih an estimated frequency of O. 92. The P allele for pea comb and the R allele for rose comb had a frequency of O. 02 and 0.01 respectively, while the recessive forms, rand p alleles for single comb had frequencies of 0.99 and 0.98 respectively. These estimated frequencies were found to be significantly different from the expected ratio based on simple Mendelian mode of inheritance of these traits

An empirical study on the influence of sustainable environmental manufacturing practice on firm performance

Environmental problem has been linked to the operational activities of manufacturing firms as they yield production with economic values under the guidance of environmental regulation.Hence, sustainable environmental practice is one of the critical factors in the competition and performance among manufacturers. This study investigates the influence of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices (SEMP) on firm performance.A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 103 manufacturing companies in Malaysia and it was analysed with SmartPLS.The result found a significant relationship between SEMP and environmental performance, but could not find an evidence of a significant relationship between SEMP, and financial and operational performance.This implies that SEMP is yet to be considered as a strategic resource in achieving competitive advantage and better firm performance among manufacturing companies.Therefore, the study suggests that the environmental policy maker should create more awareness to enlighten the manufacturing practitioners not only to perceive sustainable environmental practices as ethical but also as a strategic factor in achieving better firm performance

IMPACT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS ON STUDENTS PERFORMANCE IN DESIGN STUDIO PROJECTS

Architecture can be seen as a discipline that poses several design challenges from conception to design realization stages. This path by which the idea of an architect is translated from the mind to paper and then birthed to life is known as design process. To solve design problems, architects have to go through a systematic design process, which vary with individuals and groups. In whatever way, this is done, the process determines the output and resulting performances. Hence, this study investigates varying design processes and the impact it has on students’ performances in their design studio courses. This study adopted a survey approach with 300 structured questionnaires distributed in three Schools of Architecture in southwest Nigeria. The Results showed two distinct design process approach by students namely: (i) Students who derive design concept in mind and stick to it from the beginning of the project to the end; and (ii). Students who embark on research with guided relevant key parameters to direct their project. Findings show that students in the latter category perform better in the design studio. Furthermore, the study recommended that the design process approach is important, but the rule of thumb is not a major determinant factor to performance in architectural design studio