Optimizing supply chain management for competitive advantage in the marketing of petroleum products in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the relevance of logistic models in achieving optimal supply chain management for competitive advantage in the marketing of petroleum products in Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for this study. Employees of Northwest Petroleum/Gas, Nigerian Customs, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Ports Authority, as well as Tanker drivers and Jetty owners (ECM Terminal), constituted the population for the study, from which a sample of 200 was randomly drawn. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide and direct the study. A four point likert-type questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed and hypothesis tested with Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. Analysis revealed that the bottlenecks experienced by organizations involved in petroleum product marketing and supply chain management was majorly caused by the abject lack of appropriate logistics models that would have made the process easier and faster. It was also discovered that quantitative and empirical approaches were deficient in the decision making and problem solving procedures of the organization’s supply chain management. It was recommended that organizations involved in this line of business, as well as, government regulatory agencies’ should employ the use of appropriate logistics models to facilitate service delivery.