Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Business, Management and Economics
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Assessing The Maturity of SME Supply Chains in The NTFP Sector
Dr. Ilkka Kero, Jyri Vilko
ABSTRACT:
This study presents an approach to assessing the maturity of supply chains in the Micro- and SMEs in developing fields. Commercialization efforts often face challenges related to raw material procurement, business know-how, and market access. While existing supply chain maturity assessment models primarily focus on supply chain management in larger enterprises, it is important to note that these assessment models may not be entirely applicable to smaller or emerging markets. One of the growing fields of forestry is the non-timber forest products (NTFP) and their supply chains are still in their early stages of development. To address this gap, this study proposes a supply chain maturity assessment model that is specifically adapted for NTFP micro- and SMEs. The research methodology combines a conceptual study to develop the assessment framework and empirical data collection through qualitative case studies. In doing this, we demonstrate the model’s effectiveness in providing valuable insights and identifying areas for their business improvement on the supply chain. The assessment results highlight specific development areas for each enterprise, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches based on individual roles and levels of business in the context of the supply chain. The proposed assessment model represents a practical tool for micro- and SMEs in the NTFP domain to guide the improvement of their performance and competitiveness in the market.
keywords: Supply Chain maturity, assessment, Emerging Markets, Food Business, NTFP