Determinants of competitive advantage through achieving pharmaceutical supply chain management capabilities in the Ethiopian healthcare sector

PurposeThese days, supply chain management (SCM) is essential to maintaining the long-term sustainability of the whole manufacturing ecosystem. This research examines the effects of competitive priorities (cost, quality, flexibility and delivery) on achieving success for the three key participants in SCM: suppliers, distributors and customers.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data from 258 workers in pharmaceutical businesses was utilized in an empirical study partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine whether supply chain capabilities (SCC) were influenced by competitive advantage (cost, quality, flexibility and delivery).FindingsThe results of the investigation show a favorable correlation between competitive advantage in the Ethiopian pharmaceutical and medical supplier industry and SCC.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates the positive impacts of cost, quality, flexibility and delivery on suppliers, distributors and customers. Our findings suggest that pharmaceutical and medical suppliers prioritize achieving high-quality service before focusing on cost reduction.