Purpose: Despite the growth of literature on SC performance drivers, there is still limited attention on how road transport infrastructure may drive SC performance. This study is conducted to examine the mediating role of road safety compliance in the relationship between road transport infrastructure and SC performance among manufacturing firms in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing from the system and knowledge-based view perspectives, a framework was proposed and validated using survey data from the beverage manufacturing firms in Ghana. Data were gathered from 359 managers of firms in Ghana. The model was validated by PLS-SEM. Findings: The results showed a direct significant relationship between road transport infrastructure, road safety compliance, and SCP. The findings further revealed that the influence of road transport infrastructure on SCP is not just a bivariate relationship but also mediated through road safety compliance. The outcome of this study provides evidence that though road transport infrastructure remains crucial to driving SCP, superior SCP could be achieved in the presence of road safety compliance. Originality/value: The outcome of this study offers an important extension to the frontiers of literature on supply chain performance. It also provides practical insight to practitioners in the manufacturing setting by emphasizing the need to pay crucial attention to road safety compliance as well as invest in road infrastructure development in the quest to achieve efficient SC performance of firms.

This study, focusing on Ghanaian beverage manufacturing firms, investigates the interplay between road transport infrastructure, road safety, and supply chain (SC) performance in emerging economies. Employing a systems theory and knowledge-based views framework, data from 359 managers were analyzed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate that road transport infrastructure significantly impacts SC reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, and asset management. Road safety is a crucial moderator, influencing the relationship between road transport infrastructure and SC reliability, agility, and cost. However, it does not moderate the connection between SC responsiveness and asset management. The study underscores the importance of road safety compliance alongside strategic investments in road infrastructure for improved SC performance in emerging economy manufacturing firms. These findings contribute to innovation literature in the supply chain context, offering practical insights for manufacturing practitioners.

Purpose: While it is expected that road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction, the mechanisms and conditions under which road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction are less understood. Theoretical framework: Drawing insights from the economic geography perspective, and survey data from 359 senior managers of manufacturing firms in Ghana, we found support for the argument that road transport infrastructure is important in the quest to improve supply chain cost reduction. Methods: The hypothesized model was tested with survey data from beverage manufacturing firms in Ghana. The survey method is usually appropriate for strategic management studies. Results and Conclusion: Our findings also suggest that road safety does not just support supply chain cost reduction but serves as a transformative mechanism to reap superior supply chain cost reduction in a resource-constrained environment. Our findings make a contemporary contribution to the economic geography theory as well as important managerial guidance for managers in the supply chain management space in resource-constrained regions like SSA. Research implications: The outcome of this study offers an important extension to the frontiers of innovative literature in supply chain management. Originality/value: It also provides practical insight to practitioners in the manufacturing setting by emphasizing the need to pay crucial attention to road safety as well as invest in road infrastructure development in the quest to reduce supply chain costs.