Product-Related Activities of the Value Chain and Competitive Advantage of Manufacturing Companies in Selected States of Northern Nigeria

This study examined how product-related activities of manufacturing companies in Northern Nigeria affected competitive advantage. A survey was conducted in a cross-sectional examination of members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), where a sample, obtained through the area sampling techniques, of 144 top management staff responded to the questionnaire on behalf of their organizations. Underpinning the study on the value configuration theory, the data collected were analyzed through the partial least squares structural equation modeling. It was discovered that inbound logistic, as well as operation activities, have significant effects on the competitive advantage, and the R2 value obtained for the full model was moderate at 0.325. These findings implied that managers of manufacturing companies can rely on the contributions of the product-related activities of their value chain towards the attainment of competitive advantage. It was therefore recommended that management should deploy more resources towards enhancing both inbound logistics and operation activities of their value chain, to take full advantage of competition.