Title: Inventory automation practices and productivity: a study on steel manufacturing firms

Authors: Rashmi Ranjan Panigrahi; Duryodhan Jena; Padma Charan Mishra

Addresses: Institute of Business and Computer Studies, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India ' Faculty of Management Science, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India ' The Bisra Stone Lime Company Limited, Birmitrapur, Sundargarh, Odisha, India

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between inventory automation practices (IAP) and the productivity of steel manufacturing firms. The study also explores the mediation effect of knowledge of IAPs on the relationship between IAP and firms' productivity (FP). Study based on data, collected from 287-key officials of three manufacturing firms of Odisha, India using a structured questionnaire. SPSS and Amos software were used for data analysis. Data were processed through the test of validity and reliability and subsequently, structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to test the hypotheses. The research findings revealed that IAP has a significant positive impact on the productivity of manufacturing firms. It is also found that knowledge of IAP is partially mediating the above relationship. It will add to the existing body of knowledge and further help practitioners to understand the importance and relationships of inventory automation practices in steel manufacturing firms.

Keywords: inventory management; steel manufacturing firms; inventory automation practices; firm productivity; structural equation modelling; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2022.124071

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2022 Vol.9 No.3, pp.195 - 213

Received: 16 Apr 2021
Accepted: 13 Jun 2021
Published online: 12 Jul 2022 *