Knowledge Management and Supply Chain Innovation Performance: Empirical Evidence from Industrial Firms in Ondo and Ekiti States, South West Nigeria

This study empirically investigates the relationship between knowledge management practices and supply chain innovation performance in industrial firms in Ondo and Ekiti States, South West Nigeria. These states, while smaller industrial economies compared to Lagos and Ogun, host growing clusters of timber processing, cocoa processing, and ceramic manufacturing firms whose supply chain innovation capability is critical to competitiveness. Knowledge management, encompassing knowledge acquisition, storage, sharing, and application, is theorised as a primary enabler of supply chain process innovation, product distribution improvement, and supplier development novelty. Using a quantitative design, structured questionnaires were administered to 130 supply chain managers, operations heads, and innovation officers in 28 industrial firms across both states. Knowledge management quality is assessed through knowledge infrastructure capability, knowledge process capability, and organisational learning culture. Supply chain innovation performance is measured through new process adoption rate, logistics cost reduction through innovation, and supplier development innovation frequency. Structural equation modelling is employed. The study draws on knowledge management theory, absorptive capacity theory, and supply chain innovation literature. Findings are expected to confirm that knowledge process capability, particularly sharing and application dimensions, is the strongest predictor of supply chain innovation performance. The study provides original empirical insights from two industrially underrepresented South West Nigerian states. Recommendations address firm management, state investment and industrialisation agencies, and knowledge management consultants on integrating knowledge systems into supply chain development programmes. Keywords: knowledge management, supply chain innovation, industrial firms, Ondo, Ekiti.