Automated Material Handling and Operational Efficiency of Industrial Goods Manufacturing Companies in South-West, Nigeria

This study examined automated material handling and operational efficiency of industrial goods manufacturing companies in South-West Nigeria. The study adopted the correlational research design and the quantitative research approach. The population of the study consisted of 42 registered industrial goods manufacturing companies in South-West Nigeria. Thirty-one (31) industrial goods manufacturing companies were selected for the study using purposive sampling method. The sampling unit consisted of managers of the 31 selected industrial goods manufacturing companies in South-West Nigeria. A sample size of 155 managers was drawn from the 31 selected industrial goods manufacturing companies on the ratio of 5 managers per company. A structured questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. The data collected were analyzed statistically while the hypotheses were tested using the Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient (rho). The SPSS version 24 was used for data processing. The findings revealed that automated material storage has significant relationship with operational efficiency (time efficiency and cost efficiency) of industrial goods manufacturing companies. The study also found a significant relationship between automated material movement and operational efficiency (time efficiency and cost efficiency) of industrial goods manufacturing companies. Based on these findings, it was concluded that automated material handling such as automated material storage and movement is significantly related to operational efficiency of industrial goods manufacturing companies in South-West Nigeria. Therefore, it was recommended that industrial goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria particularly those that are yet to apply modern technology in their material handling processes should automate their material handling processes as it would enhance operational efficiency.