Browsing by Author "Heiyantuduwa, M."

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Impact of Customer Orientation Practices in Supply Chain, on Supply Chain Performance
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Peter, S.; Heiyantuduwa, M.
The study presents a conceptual model that links customer orientation practices and supply chain performance. Rising competitiveness has motivated businesses to seek innovative and effective methods to build competitiveness across all value enhancing activities of its operations. Recent research have highlighted that ―Companies do not compete; supply chains do‖, leading the companies to seek means of achieving sustainable business success through collaborative supply chains. Further, identifying and satisfying, or rather going beyond satisfying customers‘ expectations is essential for sustaining business performance. Linking these two important notions; supply chain focus and customer orientation, this study presents a model that enables assessing how the use of customer orientation practices, affects supply chain performance. Several models on customer orientation and on supply chain performance measurement were analyzed and subsequently combined and adjusted to suit the specific requirement. Expert opinion was used in the process of refining the proposed model. The presented model categorizes customer orientation practices in supply chain in to three main categories as information sharing practices, operational practices and customer service practices. Under each of these there are several sub categories of practices defined. This multi-tier categorization allows specifically identifying which type of practices impacts the most or least on supply chain performance in the context of a particular supply chain, or a particular industry. Hence the use of the model is twofold, as it enables ascertaining if there is a significant impact of using customer orientation practices, on supply chain performance in a certain firm or industry, as well as identifying best practices of customer orientation in that context. Therefore it is capable of providing guidance in implementing customer orientation practices in supply chains, and thus effectively enhancing supply chain performance.
A Strategic Analysis of the use of Third Party Logistics Providers (3PLs) in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry: A Systematic Review of Literature
(University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2015) Heiyantuduwa, M.; Wannisingha, W.M.N.N.; Rupasinghe, Thashika
This topic is of strategic importance where Sri Lanka is moving into a manufacturing economy. In getting there it is vital to find the applicability of using experts in logistics that is called the Third Party Logistics (3PL). 3PLs can be generally defined as outsourcing a firm’s logistics functions to one or more specialist firms which are known as 3PL providers. Over the past few decades, the consumer goods industry has experienced a shift in supply chain strategy from the push approach directed by manufacturers and suppliers to pull approach driven by retailers. Also, there is an increasing emphasis on services, reduced inventory levels and cost of logistics. Because of this increasingly demanding environment in managing consumer goods companies, they are progressively seeking assistance from 3PLs, 4PLs, and LLPs. Outsourcing the logistics functions lets the user focus on their core competencies, while experts take care of the logistics functions, giving the benefits of increased flexibility, reduced costs and improved services. Consequently, identifying potential enhancements in strategic use of 3PLs by the FMCG companies is increasingly being a focus point in current research. Having the objectives of providing a collective picture of current state of knowledge in this context and setting up a path for future research, this study is based on a comprehensive, systematic review of literature published in relation to the strategic use of 3PLs in FMCG industry. The scrutiny identifies several knowledge gaps where strategic use of 3PLs in the industry could be optimized, and develops propositions for future research.