A study on how effective logistics management benefits hardware suppliers in Malta

Abstract

This study was conducted together with the input of six other organisations which are all hardware suppliers in Malta. The main scope of this study was to identify how effective logistics management principles can help these suppliers become more efficient and therefore, provide a better service to their customers. The study was divided into three case studies each case highlighting a different category of suppliers. This study was done in order to contribute towards solving some of the pressing issues faced by these suppliers such as delivering products to their customers on time, maintaining a high level of service quality and having an organised and well-structured inventory and warehousing system. Therefore, in order to be able to conduct these processes in the most efficient and effective manner possible, logistics management principles need to be adhered to. This study investigates the processes currently adopted by the suppliers and provides an in-depth thematic analysis on them. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are provided, highlighting key issues that can be addressed for the suppliers to become more efficient and be in a better position to fully satisfy their customers, offering the best product and service level possible. All the processes have to be integrated together in order to create an efficient and effective logistics management system within an organisation which will help achieve full customer satisfaction.