Explore publications.

This study investigates the key factors influencing warehouse inventory performance at Eskom Distribution in the Gauteng Cluster using factor analysis. The aim is to identify critical elements that impact inventory management effectiveness and enhance operational performance. Eskom faces challenges in inventory control, including forecasting inaccuracies, procurement risks, and technology integration limitations, despite advancements in Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and Reorder Point (ROP) models. This research applies a quantitative approach with a positivist paradigm, using simple random sampling to select 144 respondents from a target population of 230 employees involved in inventory management. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to uncover the factors affecting warehouse performance. The study identifies three major components—operational efficiency, inventory accuracy, and record-keeping—that account for the majority of variance in performance outcomes. These findings are aligned with previous studies emphasizing the role of accurate inventory data, efficient operations, and technology in enhancing warehouse functioning. The implications suggest that Eskom and similar organizations should invest in advanced inventory management systems, improve staff training, and adopt real-time tracking solutions. Further research could explore how external disruptions and emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain, influence inventory performance across various sectors. This study contributes valuable insights to the field of inventory management within the public sector, offering practical recommendations for improving warehouse efficiency and reducing operational delays.  

The study assesses the benefits and challenges of inventory management practices and systems in the South African automotive industry. The study used a qualitative approach in which focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted on 18 supply chain professionals drawn from the automotive sector in four provinces in South Africa. ATLAS.ti software was used to analyse data. The study generated two themes: the benefits and challenges of inventory management practices and systems. This study concludes that inventory management practices play a critical role within companies in the South African automotive sector since managing inventory is an indispensable part of the more extensive supply chain management (SCM) practice. Regarding inventory management challenges, SCM professionals find it difficult to retain the resilience required to adapt and react to any disruptive circumstances due to inadequate support from the South African government. Also, it appeared difficult to deal with this challenge as some companies within the South African automotive sector have limited resources, making it extremely difficult to deal with uncertainties when they arise.