The impact of supply chain innovative practices on customer satisfaction in small manufacturing enterprises

This paper examines the extent to which manufacturing SMEs embrace SCIPs and their impact on customer satisfaction using a convenience sampling technique and cross-sectional research design. Data were collected from 172 customers of manufacturing SMEs in Mwanza city, Tanzania using a questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to ascertain the impact of SCIPs on customer satisfaction. The study revealed electronic data interchange, early buyer involvement, just-in-time, collaboration, vendor-managed inventory, lean production, agile supply chain, outsourcing and cross-docking as the most SCIPs adopted in manufacturing SMEs. The spotted SCIPs showed a positive and statistically significant impact on customer satisfaction. The study concludes that SCIPs are important tools for customer satisfaction along the supply chain of manufacturing SMEs. Therefore, supply chain stakeholders should aim at full adoption of SCIPs to improve their performance, satisfy and retain customers. The study also provides direction for future studies, theoretical and managerial implications to policymakers and scholars.