465 KB0 KB202120252024Bafana, SithokozileChari, FelixMutsvangwa, Simbaletnik:15številka:issue 2str. 57-74DOI:10.2478/jlst-2024-0010COBISSID_HOST:219229699ISSN:2784-7497URN:URN:NBN:SI:doc-G1VDVR34enDe Gruyter PolandFakulteta za logistikoLogistics, supply chain, sustainability and global challengesinformacijska in komunikacijska tehnologijainformation and communication technologymaterial requirement planningMSP (mala in srednje veliak pdojetja)načrtovanje potreb po materialuSMEs (small and medium enterprises)supply chain efficiencyučinkovitost dobavne verigeInformation communication technology and supply chain efficiency in manufacturing SMES in Bulawayo Province in Zimbabwe|There has been a global plummeting trend of failure in most manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) due to purported supply chain inefficiency. It is imperative for clothing manufacturing SMEs in developing nations like Zimbabwe, with reference to Bulawayo Province, which lacks digitization to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions into their supply chain operations to improving efficiency and maintain competitiveness in the global market. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate ICT and supply chain efficiency in the clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo Province. Employing the pragmatic approach, data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires from a sample of 107 from a total population of 147 that were triangulated with 15 interviews from clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo. A simple linear regression analysis through Ordinary Least Squares was conducted to test the relationship between ICT and supply chain efficiency. The results show that ICT has a positive and statistically significant effect on cost performance, agility and delivery performance in Bulawayo clothing manufacturing SMEs. By prioritizing ICT adoption, managers can achieve better cost management, increased responsiveness to market demands, and enhanced delivery capabilities. It is recommended that clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo should embrace the ICT. Further studies should examine the relationship between ICT and supply chain efficiency in manufacturing SMEs across different industries and nationsNa svetovni ravni je opazen trend upadanja uspešnosti večine malih in srednje velikih podjetij (MSP) v proizvodnji, zaradi domnevne neučinkovitosti oskrbovalne verige. Za mala in srednje velika podjetja v proizvodnji oblačil v državah v razvoju, kot je Zimbabve, z ozirom na provinco Bulawayo, ki ni digitalizirana, je nujno, da vključijo rešitve informacijske in komunikacijske tehnologije (IKT) v svoje dejavnosti oskrbovalne verige za izboljšanje učinkovitosti in ohranitev konkurenčnosti na svetovnem trgu. Namen študije je, oceniti IKT in učinkovitost oskrbovalne verige v MSP, za proizvodnjo oblačil v provinci Bulawayo. Podatki so bili zbrani s polstrukturiranimi vprašalniki na vzorcu 107, od skupno 147 prebivalcev, ki so bili triangulirani s 15 intervjuji, z malimi in srednje velikimi podjetji za proizvodnjo oblačil v Bulawayu. Za preverjanje razmerja med IKT in učinkovitostjo oskrbovalne verige je bila izvedena linearna regresijska analiza z metodo najmanjših kvadratov. Rezultati prikazujejo, da ima IKT pozitiven in statistično pomemben učinek na stroškovno učinkovitost, agilnost in učinkovitost oskrbovalne v MSP za proizvodnjo oblačil v Bulawayu. S prednostnim sprejemanjem IKT lahko vodje dosežejo boljše upravljanje stroškov, večjo odzivnost na zahteve trga in boljše zmogljivosti za zagotavljanje storitev. Priporočljivo je, da mala in srednje velika podjetja za proizvodnjo oblačil v Bulawayu sprejmejo IKT. V nadaljnjih študijah bi bilo treba preučiti povezavo med IKT in učinkovitostjo oskrbovalne verige v proizvodnih MSP v različnih panogah in državahTEXTznanstveno časopisjejournalsSlovenian National E-content AggregatorNational and University Library of SloveniaUniverza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za logistiko