Analysis of factors influencing the efficient and effective supply of uniform material : case of a public sector organisation

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to analyze the factors influencing the effective and efficient supply of uniform material: case of a public sector organization. Since 2005, DTAC, the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee has allocated uniform materials requirements of the state sector to local textile manufacturers. The main objective of this exercise is to empower the Local Textile Manufacturers. However, researcher observed that, there is huge lead time gap when material supplying through DTAC. Pre-processing lead of DTAC purchasing process is very high comparatively to the government procurement process. Public sector organizations have to provide textile material to run their own garment factories situated at their premises and unavailability of material make machine idling situation. Because, this garment factories establish to provide stitching facility only for uniform requirement of military personnel’s and they do not accept any outside orders like in a privet sector garment factory. Collection of data, both preliminary and secondary was based on the factors contributing to the efficient and effective uniform material supply by Local Textile Manufacturers through the policy adopted by the government. These factors are identified as variables. Accordingly, six variables have been selected and to measure those variables researcher has selected several indicators as appropriate. Those six variables are co0lloboration among stakeholders, development of production capacity of the manufacturers, improvement of quality of the fabrics, extent of using modern technologies, the incentives granted by the government and item acceptance. In view of collecting data, two type of questionnaire were prepared and questionnaire no 2 was distributed among four major factories and held interviews with factory owners and other officials who involved in the scheme. The questioner no 1 was distributed among the personnel who are directly involving with this purchasing process to see the impact of each variable on lead time. To study the production process researcher visited the factories and obtained further details for strengthening the reliability of the data. The study more focused on purchase of uniform materials to the SLAF because the time and recourses available are very limited and finding and recommendation of this case study can be applying for other sister services too. VI A survey research was carried out using structured questionnaire collecting data from a sample of 32 (n=32) respondent in DTAC supply chain. Survey data collected are first used to validate the measurement properties and then hypotheses were tested. A significant relationship between factors influencing for efficient and effective supply of uniform material to public sector was observed. Further, this study reveals a moderate level of GSCM adaptation in Sri Lankan manufacturing firms. Thus, the results of this study support the view that influencing factors like collaboration do influence the performance of firms, ensuring growth and survival, regardless of the size of the firm. The key findings were compared with prevailing literature based on developed and developing countries and recommendation was given as to how this problem can minimized and what practices can be adapted by manufacturing firms in future for better performance of uniform material manufacturing process, which would lead to yield competitive advantages stakeholders in DTAC supply chain. With an in-depth investigation it was found that the Domestic textile industry can be brought on top winning track if government and other individuals take serious actions in removing or normalizing the hurdles behind this complicated process. Additionally, the government should provide subsidy to the textile industry, minimize the internal dispute among the manufactures, withdraw the withholding and sales taxes etc. Purchasing new machinery or enhancing the quality of the existing machinery and introducing new technology can also be very useful in increasing the research and development (R and D) related activities that in the modern era are very important for increasing the domestic textile sector growth of a country.