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

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

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

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

Antecedents and outcome of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices

An increased demand has been placed on the manufacturing industries to be more responsible to their environment with respect to their product and processes.This demand is due to various antecedent factors driving sustainable environmental practices in manufacturing firms. However, environmental value is not only the concern of firms.The impacts of this environmental initiative on the performance of these firms are as well important.The aim of this study is twofold: (i) to propose a comprehensive framework that encompasses the antecedents and the outcome of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices and (ii) as a validation process for the developed instrument of the ongoing research for the identified constructs of the study.Data were collected from thirty respondents using a seventy-seven item instrument.The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software. The results of the Cronbach’s Alpha test reveal a strong internal reliability of the construct and the overall instrument.The research is significant because it explores the implementation of sustainable environmental manufacturing practices in Malaysia and validates the instrument in which most of these constructs still need further exploration

Assessing genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of duck (Anas platyrhynchos) in Nigeria using mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences

In this study, the maternal genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Nigerian duck populations were assessed. A total of 591 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region of 87 indigenous ducks from two populations in Nigeria were analyzed. Seven haplotypes and 70 polymorphic sites were identified. The mean haplotypic and nucleotide diversity were found to be 0.381±0.058 and 0.315±0.155 respectively. The phylogeny revealed two divergent haplotype clades, suggesting two possible maternal lineage in Nigerian duck population, with the most commonly shared haplotype belonging to Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Genetic variation within and between populations accounted for 63.32% and 36.68% of the total genetic variation respectively. This study concluded that there was relatively high genetic diversity and differentiation, thus, this information will probably pave way for further evaluation studies, preservation and improvement of Nigerian ducks as genetic resources.Keywords: Genetic Diversity, MtDNA, Nigerian duck, phylogen

Comparative Analysis of Production Efficiency of Government-Assisted and Unassisted Pig Farmers in Lagos State

This study comparatively examined the efficiency of pig production among government-assisted and non-assisted farmers in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria. The study was based on primary data obtained in a cross-section survey of 120 pig farmers, 60 each drawn purposively from among the government-assisted (GAPF) and unassisted pig farmers (UAPF) in the state. The data were analysed by descriptive, budgetary and econometric (Stochastic Production Frontier) methods. The study revealed that, most of the pig farmers (67.7% of GAPF and 95.0% of UAPF) are men. Majority of the pig farmers (65.0% of GAPF and 55.0% of UAPF) are within 30 - 50 years age bracket; with as much as 83.3% of GAPF and 60.0% of UAPF, having no more than six years of experience in pig farming. However, most (95.0% of GAPF and 75.0% of UAPF) of the pig farmers had some tertiary education. Budgetary analysis revealed that an average GAPF incurred a total cost of N987,682 in producing N1,360,050 worth of pigs with a net farm income of N372,368 yielding 33.67% rate of returns on their investment during the 2008/2009 production season. His UAPF counterpart incurred a total cost of N727,860 in producing N938,000 worth of pigs with a net farm income of N210,140 yielding 31.73% rate of returns on during the same production season. The technical, allocative and overall economic efficiency estimates computed based on estimated Stochastic Production and Conditional Revenue Frontier models of the two categories of pig farmers revealed that GAPF are generally more efficient (with mean technical, allocative and overall economic efficiency index of 0.66, 0.68 and 0.48, respectively) than their UAPF counterparts (with mean technical, allocative and overall economic efficiency index of 0.53, 0.60 and 0.35, respectively). The differences in the production efficiency of the two categories of farms were found to be as a result of the institutional and infrastructural support received by GAPF which is not available to the UAPF. &nbsp