Inbound Logistics Metrics and Performance of Freight Forwarders Association in Kicukiro District, Rwanda

Abstract

The Rwandan Freight forwarders federation (RWAFFA) was established in 2013 to deal with the fragility that was in the clearing and forwarding industry, which worked without defined and professional procedures that led to poor and inefficient practices within the industry. The objective of this study was to examine inbound logistics metrics on the performance of Freight forwarders federation in Rwanda. A case of RWAFFA in Kicukiro District. This study was guided by three specific objectives which are toto evaluate order fulfilment accuracy level of freight forwarders in Rwanda, to determine the status of on time delivered shipments, in case of freight forwarders in Rwanda and to analyse the degree of safety for goods handled by freight forwarders in Rwanda. The research was of great significant to the researcher, MKU and freight forwarding Industry in Rwanda. The descriptive research design with two mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative was used to collect data by use of interview guide and questionnaire. The 160 respondents of the study were selected from the target population of 246 including employees from RWAFFA management team, clearing agents and importers firms operating in Kicukiro District using the Krejcie and Morgan table with a simple random and census method of selecting the sample size. The collected results were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis with use of percentage, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics by the use of Pearson correlation (r) and multiple linear logistic regression analysis. Data were also presented in figure, tables and narratives because the qualitative data were analyzed with the use of thematic analysis which require the researcher to present the qualitative results in narrative. In this study, research findings showed that inbound logistic metrics were adopted to reduce the damaged shipment in freight forwarding within Rwandan Freight Forwarders association (RWAFFA).Therefore,The intercept of the regression was 13.803 and statistically significant p= 0.000).While the coefficient of order accuracy was 0.100 and p = 0.003. On time delivery had an intercept of 0.043 but significant at 0.002 and finally safety of goods had it at 0.065 and also positive. Despite the problem arising within Rwandan freight forwarders association in Kicukiro District such as Inadequate Performance measurement and metrics pertaining to SCM, lack of professionalism, clear regulations and to some extend absence of documented procedures to follow, delays and unreliability, lack of previous empirical research that examined the effects of inbound logistics metrics on performance of freight forwarders. The current success in implantation of inbound logistic metrics was contributed to the performance of freight forwarders federations. Keywords: Supply Chain Efficiency, Freight Forwarding, Kicukiro District Logistics, Inbound Logistics Metrics, Rwanda Transportation Industry