Exploring the Determinants of Applying Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the Egyptian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs

Abstract

In Egypt, small and medium enterprise (SMEs) represent a large portion of all economic establishments and employment opportunities; however their role in the economic development of the country is limited due to lack of efficiency. This research sheds the light on the current state of implementing supply chain management (SCM) in the Egyptian SMEs, through the study of various challenges which they are facing in applying the SCM that would help in inventory management improvement, establishment of supplier relationships, customer responsiveness, information technology systems improvement, and the creation of competitive advantage for the channel, which will eventually help in lowering costs and increase gains to both SMEs and the country. A pilot study was carried to gain a better insight on the study sector. Followed by, a survey distributed among different small and medium enterprises in great Cairo, Giza, and Damietta governorates, yielding 103 valid responses. A statistical analysis of the survey is introduced including both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Ten main difficulties hindering SC performance were identified. Moreover, an exploratory analysis of the survey showed that the main concerns to SC managers are related to Telecommunication infrastructure, workforce availability and the knowledge, skills, and abilities for managing the supply chain. The study therefore recommends