Internal Resource Mobilization Strategies and Competitiveness of Medium Sized Manufacturing Firms in Ruiru Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of internal resource utilization strategies on competitive advantage among medium-sized manufacturing industries in Ruiru, Kenya. The study was centered on establishing the effect of financial resource management strategies, human resource utilization practices and technological adoption strategies on competitive advantage among medium-sized manufacturing industries in Ruiru, Kenya. Methodology: The study used descriptive research design and targeted 540 senior employees from fourteen medium size manufacturers in Ruiru Kenya. Sample size of 230 respondents was determined using Yamane formula. The study used primary data which was collected through structured questionnaires. Through SPSS Version 24.0, data analysis involved descriptive, Pearson correlation and simple linear regression. Tables and figures were used for presentation of results. Findings: The study established that there existed a statistically significant relationship between financial resource management strategies and the competitive advantage of medium size manufacturing, r (0.721); p value < 0.01. Regression coefficients showed that a unit increase in financial resource management strategy attracted 0.440 increase in competitive advantage of manufacturing firms. The study also established existence of a statistically significant relationship between human resource utilization strategy and the competitive advantage of medium size manufacturers, r (0.677); p value < 0.01.Regression coefficients showed that a unit increase in HR utilization strategies attracted 0.600 increase in competitive advantage of manufacturing firms. The study finally established existence of a statistically significant relationship between technological adoption strategies and the competitive advantage of medium-size manufacturers, r (0.584); p value < 0.01. Regression coefficients showed that a unit increase in technology adoption strategies attracted 0.427 increase in competitive advantage of manufacturing firms. The study concludes that financial resource management strategy is significantly and positively correlated with competitive advantage of medium-size manufacturers. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study thus recommends medium-size manufacturers to focus on; adopting lean manufacturing practices, conducting regular workforce audits and aligning staff with production demand based on data driven scheduling techniques, and allocating annual budgets for technology upgrades aligned with operational needs and innovative trends.