The relationship between supplier selection criteria and supply chain agility performance in electric and electronics industry in Somalia

In the current volatile business environment, supply chain agility is critical, especially in dynamic sectors such as the electrical and electronics industry. This study examines the relationship between four supplier selection criteria which is supplier quality, supplier delivery, supplier profile, and supplier cost and the supply chain agility performance of electrical and electronic companies in Somalia. However, many electrical and electronics companies in Somalia lack structured supplier evaluation systems, leading to inconsistent selection practices that hinder their supply chain agility. The study targeted a population of 200 employees involved in procurement, supply chain, and managerial roles from four major E&E companies in Somalia: Beco, Necsom, Sompower, and Beder Electronics. Using a random sampling technique, structured questionnaires were distributed, and responses were obtained from 145 participants. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results show that supplier quality, delivery reliability and supplier profile have a significant relationship with supply chain agility performance. These elements support companies to react to market changes quickly and flexibly. On the other hand, supplier costs do not show a significant relationship, indicating that only cost efficiency is not enough to guarantee operational continuity in this context. This study underlines the need to prioritize trustworthy, experienced, and quality vendors from a management perspective. It is important to think through vendor assessments considering long-term relationships, the integration of logistics, and quality indicators to build a flexible supply chain. While cost factors were always to be important, it is essential to find a balance between the need for flexibility and sustainability. This research contributes to the supply chain management literature in developing economies and provides practical suggestions to enhance operational agility in the electricity and electronics sector in Somalia