The Assessment of the Factors Influencing Warehouse Performance in Manufacturing Companies: Evidence from Tanzania Breweries Limited
Abstract
This study assessed the factors influencing warehouse performance in Tanzania's manufacturing industry, using Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) as a case study. Specifically, the study examined the influence of technological integration practices, staff competence, and inventory management practices on warehouse performance. The study was guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, which emphasizes the importance of organizational resources and capabilities in achieving improved performance. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and a deductive approach, using a quantitative descriptive research design. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to employees involved in warehouse and logistics operations at TBL. A sample of 96 respondents was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS version 24. The research instrument was reliable, with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients ranging from 0.740 to 0.840. The findings reveal that technological integration practices have a significant positive relationship with warehouse performance (r = 0.482, p < 0.001) and make a significant positive contribution to performance (β = 0.349, p < 0.001). Staff competence demonstrates the strongest relationship with warehouse performance (r = 0.597, p < 0.001) and is the strongest predictor in the regression model (β = 0.520, p < 0.001). Inventory management practices also have a significant positive relationship with warehouse performance (r = 0.458, p < 0.001) and contribute significantly to warehouse performance (β = 0.422, p < 0.001). The overall regression model is statistically significant, F(3,92) = 62.808, p < 0.001, with R² = 0.672, indicating that the three factors jointly explain 67.2% of the variation in warehouse performance. The study concludes that technological integration, staff competence, and inventory management are important organizational resources and capabilities for improving warehouse performance at TBL. The findings support the Resource-Based View by showing that effectively combining and using technological, human, and inventory-related resources can enhance warehouse performance. The study recommends strengthening employee training and motivation, improving the integration and utilization of warehouse technologies, and enhancing inventory planning, stock rotation, forecasting, and control practices.
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