Background of the study
Supply chain agility refers to a company’s ability to rapidly respond to changes in the market and adapt its supply chain operations to meet new demands or challenges (Lee et al., 2024). In the pharmaceutical industry, where the timely delivery of life-saving medications is critical, supply chain agility is particularly important. Pharmaceuticals are often subject to stringent regulations, unpredictable demand, and the need for precise storage and transportation conditions (Adeoye et al., 2023). Emzor Pharmaceuticals, a leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, faces these challenges while striving to maintain an efficient and agile supply chain (Oluwaseun et al., 2025).
Kaduna State, with its strategic location and growing healthcare infrastructure, provides a unique context for assessing supply chain agility in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector. Emzor Pharmaceuticals operates across multiple states, and Kaduna serves as a key distribution hub for the northern region. The company’s ability to maintain agile supply chains in this region—especially given logistical challenges and fluctuating demand for pharmaceutical products—plays a significant role in ensuring that medications are available when needed (Okereke et al., 2023).
The study will examine how Emzor Pharmaceuticals manages its supply chain agility in Kaduna State, focusing on how the company addresses demand variability, regulatory requirements, and supply chain disruptions while maintaining efficient operations. By investigating these factors, this study will contribute to understanding the broader implications of supply chain agility in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.
Statement of the problem
Although supply chain agility is critical for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in a rapidly developing market like Nigeria, limited research has explored how pharmaceutical companies like Emzor Pharmaceuticals manage agility in their supply chains, especially in states like Kaduna. While there are studies on supply chain management in various sectors, the pharmaceutical industry faces unique challenges, such as stringent regulatory compliance, temperature-sensitive products, and unpredictable demand (Aliyu et al., 2023).
Kaduna State presents a unique case study due to its growing healthcare infrastructure but also due to challenges such as unreliable transportation networks and regional disparities in healthcare access. This study will address the gap in the literature by investigating how Emzor Pharmaceuticals implements agile supply chain strategies to navigate these challenges and improve service delivery in Kaduna State.
Objectives of the study
To evaluate the level of supply chain agility at Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Kaduna State.
To assess the impact of supply chain agility on product availability and customer satisfaction in Kaduna State.
To identify the key challenges and opportunities associated with supply chain agility in the pharmaceutical industry in Kaduna State.
Research questions
How agile is the supply chain at Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Kaduna State?
What is the impact of supply chain agility on product availability and customer satisfaction in Kaduna State?
What are the key challenges and opportunities in enhancing supply chain agility in Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Kaduna State?
Research hypotheses
Supply chain agility significantly improves product availability and customer satisfaction at Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Kaduna State.
Supply chain agility in Emzor Pharmaceuticals is significantly impacted by logistical challenges and regulatory requirements in Kaduna State.
Emzor Pharmaceuticals' supply chain agility is positively correlated with its ability to respond to market demand fluctuations in Kaduna State.
Scope and limitations of the study
This study will focus on Emzor Pharmaceuticals’ supply chain agility in Kaduna State. The research will examine how agile the company’s supply chain is in responding to demand fluctuations, regulatory challenges, and supply chain disruptions. Primary data will be collected through interviews with Emzor’s supply chain managers and surveys with healthcare providers and consumers in Kaduna. A limitation of the study is the potential difficulty in accessing some internal data related to supply chain operations, which may affect the depth of analysis.
Definitions of terms
Supply chain agility: The ability of a company to rapidly adjust its supply chain operations in response to changes in market demand, supply disruptions, and other factors.
Pharmaceutical logistics: The management of the transportation, storage, and distribution of pharmaceutical products.
Customer satisfaction: The degree to which customers perceive that a company’s products and services meet or exceed their expectations.
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