Materials Management and Productivity Maximization in Selected Small Aluminium Firms in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

For firms today, the ultimate goal is to boost productivity and revenues through better approaches towards value conveyance as well as continuous improvements. Improved production and productivity are thus imperative to achieving customer retention and loyalty, hence objectivity. To achieve this, however, organisations must adapt to regularly changing customers’ aspirations, tastes, preferences, and wants. Therefore, this study examines material management and productivity maximization. The specific objectives are to (i) assess materials management on product standardization; and (ii) examine the effect of materials management on product value. The study used a descriptive survey research design with managers (owners of businesses), staff and customers of selected fifteen (15) small aluminum firms in Enugu, Nigeria as the population. The sample size adopted for this study is one hundred (110), and structured questionnaires were administered and analyzed using percentage mean scores. The result reveals that product standardization was influenced by the efficiency of materials management in selected aluminum firms, as the grand mean obtained was 3.71. Also, it was shown that product value was significantly and positively affected by a firm’s ability to effectively and efficiently manage its materials, as the grand mean obtained was 3.73. The study concludes that Materials management being a strong frontier for profit improvement through cost control, contributes to increased production and productivity and thus customer satisfaction through adherence to standardized products. It was recommended that aluminum firms should conduct customer satisfaction surveys regularly to ensure that expected value is transferred to customers at all times.