SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AFFECTING THE COST ADVANTAGE AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE FOOD EXPORTERS IN THAILAND BY SIZE

Phatcharapha Singtanasarn

Abstract

This study has 2 main objectives: (1) to study the effect of the supply chain management practices on the cost competitive advantage of the food exporters in Thailand by size and (2) to study the indirect effect of the supply chain management practices on the competitiveness through the cost competitive advantage of the food exporters in Thailand by size. The conceptual framework of this study was derived from the study of the conceptual apparatus and the theoretical framework utilized by investigators of the competitiveness, the competitive advantage and the supply chain management practices. This study employed the quantitative research methodology. The questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect data from 170 executives of food exporters in Thailand. The researcher used Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as the technique to analyze the data. The research findings indicated that the supply chain management practices have direct impact on the cost competitive advantage of the food exporters in Thailand every size but only small enterprises have indirect impact on the competitiveness through the cost competitive advantage.