Logistics problems of companies manufacturing in Elazığ

Logistics service providers are an important factor in the business success of companies engaged in commercial activities at national and international levels. They play an important role in gaining competitive advantage for businesses engaged in direct buying and selling activities in international trade. The main purpose of engaging logistics intermediaries, such as logistics service providers, is to facilitate the functioning of companies trading internationally in the organization of shipment and/or delivery of goods. As business processes and business organizations in international trade become more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage all activities alone. Logistics management plays an important role in the success of any company's operations and has a direct impact on the company's profitability. More importantly, logistics processes play a huge role in customer satisfaction, which is more important than low product costs. Logistics professionals should see themselves as a customer-facing part of the company and strive to add value to their customers every day. With this study, the logistics problems experienced by businesses in Elazığ will be determined. Since it will be ranked according to the level of importance, it is important to be a helpful resource for future studies on what the source of the problem is and how it can be solved. It will be a research that can contribute to both the Elazığ economy and the country's economy by correctly perceiving logistics problems, identifying obstacles and creating suggestions to eliminate them. In addition, the fact that there is no academic study on the logistics sector in Elazığ increases the importance of the subject and the information obtained as a result of the study will contribute to stakeholders in an academic sense. The aim of this study is to identify the logistics problems faced by companies producing in Elazığ and to rank the problems according to their importance. Although this is the general aim, the current situation of the logistics sector in Elazığ is to determine the sub-problems related to logistics elements such as transportation, storage, packaging and transportation that companies face both in the domestic market and foreign markets and to produce solution suggestions for these. In the study, logistics concepts were examined in detail through literature review. The research will be conducted using the survey method, one of the quantitative research methods. As a result of examining the sources obtained from the literature, a survey form to be used in the study was designed. While creating the survey form, the survey scales used by Kaymakçı in his Master's Thesis were used. The prepared survey form was applied to manufacturing enterprises in Elazığ. Information was collected by face-to-face survey method with manufacturing companies in Elazığ. The survey method was chosen due to its advantages of collecting a wide range of information, speed and cost advantages, high response rate and eliminating misunderstandings. The data obtained as a result of the survey application was analyzed with the SPSS 25 package program. Reliability Analysis of the scale used in the research was conducted and the relevant coefficient was calculated as 0.83. Logistical problems encountered by manufacturing companies in Elazığ are incomplete and faulty orders, 'Damage of products in storage and handling, etc. impose extra costs on our company, packaging of the products is not professional, products are delivered late to our customers, irresponsible and inexperienced drivers are present in the logistics sector,' Reasons such as 'cost increase due to the damage, delay and lengthening of the transported products due to infrastructure problems in road transportation, loss of customers as a result of urgent shipments due to lack of logistics opportunities with air transportation, 'failure to enter some markets due to war / terrorism' are listed. According to these results, training of trained personnel in the field of logistics service providers in our city, logistics companies having special machines and equipment in the field of transportation, establishment of main logistics collection centers in our city, giving importance to the training and certification studies of drivers providing road transportation services, and encouraging our city airline to provide civil cargo transportation services. Suggestions can be given to carry out infrastructure works and to enter markets that are not entered due to security reasons, under the control of security forces. Key Words: Logistics, Manufacturing industry, Elazığ province, Logistics problems