Effects of Materials Management on Service delivery within British Army Training Unit, Nanyuki, Kenya

Abstract

Effective materials management is potential to achieving organizational development and is at the nucleus of operations in organizations. This study aimed to establish the effects of materials management on service delivery at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK). The study specifically sought to assess material requirements planning, inventory control and physical material distribution and how these factors affect service delivery at BATUK. This study was pegged on the human systems dynamics and the institutional theory. A descriptive research design was adopted to analyze the effect of materials management on service delivery. The target population was 535 from which a sample of 229 respondents was used to obtain information. A stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure that there are no biases in the selection of the respondents. The respondents were divided in to two strata; the industrial and non-industrial employees. Data was collected through the use of a questionnaire which contained open and closed ended questions. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was tested through the use of content validity and Cronbach’s Alpha respectively. A pilot study was undertaken at the Kahawa Barracks. The data collected was analyzed through the use of SPSS software. Descriptive statistics enabled the researcher to present data in a meaningful way while inferential statistics helped to deduce meaning to the findings. A regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses presented by the study. Presentation of the findings was done through the use of tables and graphs. On the effect of Materials requirement planning, the study found out that even with set procedures for planning, the process for planning materials in the organization is not sufficient since there were experiences of delays which affect the delivery of materials. On the effect of Inventory control, the study found out that forecasting does not help in controlling inventory and therefore the cost of inventory cannot be reduced only through inventory control. On the effect of physical material distribution, the study found out that there is a strong transportation system in the organization however; no regulations had been put in place to select the transportation modes also the study uncovered that the organization has made sufficient investments for warehousing infrastructure. On Service Delivery, the study found out that automation of materials management systems improves the levels of service delivery. Significance of the study variables was determined if the P-Value was < 0.05. The study found out that inventory control has a positive correlation with service delivery (r= 0.270; p= 0.000). Also, physical material distribution was found to have a positive correlation with service delivery (r= 0.319; p= 0.000). There was demonstration that a statistically significant relationship exists between physical material distribution and service delivery at BATUK. The study recommended that a similar study should be conducted in other organizations in the public and private sectors in Kenya.