SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION AND WAREHOUSE PERFORMANCE IN LEATHER PROCESSING CLUSTERS: A STUDY OF THE TANNERY INDUSTRY IN KANO

Abstract

This study examined the effect of supply chain coordination on warehouse performance in the Kano tannery industry, with inventory management efficiency as a mediating variable. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of information sharing, collaboration, trust, and supply chain coordination on warehouse performance. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, while data were collected from 297 employees and managers involved in logistics and warehousing operations in tannery firms in Kano State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection, and the analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that inventory management efficiency had the strongest positive effect on warehouse performance (β = 0.806), indicating that effective inventory control, timely replenishment, and stock optimization are critical drivers of warehouse efficiency. Trust also showed a significant positive influence on warehouse performance, confirming its role in reducing uncertainty and improving operational coordination. However, information sharing and collaboration produced negligible effects, while supply chain coordination exhibited a weak but positive relationship with warehouse performance. The study concluded that warehouse performance in the Kano tannery industry depends largely on efficient inventory management and trust-based relationships among supply chain actors. The study recommends improved inventory systems, stronger inter-firm trust, and enhanced technological infrastructure to strengthen logistics efficiency and competitiveness in the leather industry.