Rudimentary causes and impacts of supply chain risks in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Identification of the causes of supply chain risks is a logical step towards its effective management. The purpose of this study is to explore the causes of supply chain risks, their impacts, and the mitigating strategies used among the manufacturing firms in Nigeria. An exploratory qualitative multiple case research methodology combined with the quantitative content analysis is used for this study. A sample of ten manufacturing firms cutting across three different sub-sectors (Pharmaceutical & Health, Food & Beverage, and Conglomerate) was chosen for the study. Partial and complete open-ended questions in the interview guide were used for the interviews conducted among the respondents. The study revealed the common causes of supply chain risks in manufacturing firms in Nigeria which include; transportation delays, variation in raw material prices and quantities, unexpected customer demands, and constant power outages.