OKUSOWA Osuomosoma Winifred1
HARCOURT Horsfall2
ORLU Rising Ezekiel3
1,2Department of Marketing, Faculty of Administration and Management,
Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt
3 Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Administration and Management,
Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt
Abstract
This study examined the correlation between automated storage system (ASS) and operational efficiency of food and beverage (F&B) companies in Nigeria, focusing on how ASS relates to inventory accuracy, cost saving and space utilization. Founded on the Lean Theory, the study adopted correlational research design with a cross-sectional approach. The population of the study comprised 20 F&B companies in Nigeria. All the companies were studied because the population is small. However, the study collected data form 119 respondents provided through a semi-structured questionnaire consisting 16 measurement items, and designed in 5–point Likert scale. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistic was used to test the hypotheses formulated for the study. The results indicates that ASS relates positively and significantly to inventory accuracy, cost saving and space utilization. Based on these findings, the study concluded that there is a positive and significant relationship between ASS and operational efficiency of F&B companies in Nigeria; and recommends that F&B companies in Nigeria that seek improved operational efficiency in terms of tory accuracy, cost saving and space utilization should prioritize investment in ASS to capitalize on long-term cost saving, maximize space efficiency, collaborate with technology providers to design and implement customized ASS, and integrate data analytic tools that allow them to continuously analyze operational data generated by ASS to reduce cost, and stay ahead of competitors.
Keywords: Automated storage system, cost saving, inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, space utilization