Does Supply Chain Resilience Strategy Influence Competitive Advantage? Evidence from Manufacturing Companies in Ethiopia

Abstract: To secure a competitive advantage, modern supply chains need to swiftly, adeptly, and effectively fulfil client demands. This study investigates the effect of supply chain resilience strategy on the competitive advantage of medium- and large-scale bottled water manufacturing companies in Ethiopia. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used. Data were collected from 347 employees using structured questionnaires. The collected data were analysed mainly using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM path analysis results indicate that supply chain flexibility, supply chain visibility, and supply chain efficiency exerted a positive and significant effect on competitive advantage with β = 0.513, 0.614, and 0.614, respectively. This further suggests that the competitive advantage of the companies will get a better position as they invest in resilience measures such as flexibility, visibility, and efficiency. Keywords: Supply Chain, Resilience Strategies, Competitive Advantage, Manufacturing Companies JEL Classification Number: L11, M11