Coffee supply chain traceability model: Case of the Coffee Board of Kenya
Date
2013-06
Authors
Mumbi, Mungai Karen
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Strathmore university
Abstract
This thesis describes the potential impact of the introduction, implementation and integration of traceability model in the coffee industry. It seeks to identify a traceability model to be used as a blueprint in developing a traceability system for the coffee sector. This is achieved by highlighting the value chain players in the coffee sub-sector, the processes and to ensure that the system is aligned along the coffee supply chain. This technological innovation is meant to trace coffee consistently and efficiently from the point of origin to the point of consumption.
Absence of the right traceability model in the coffee sector in Kenya is hindering the potential of this sector as well as limiting its growth. The value of an automated coffee traceability system would seek to integrate all the information scattered from all the supply chain player's; centralize capture; storage and retrieval of information; speed up processing of information; keep track of the production process ; generate reports; and also be used as a knowledge management tool.
The methodology used was a basic survey, questionnaire and interview. Data was collected from a sample selected to represent a larger population. This sample size consists of Sasini Miller Limited and the Coffee Board of Kenya. The estimated population of CBK ICT users in the organization is 65 working with the confidence level of 95% and a confidence interval of 9, using the sample size formula 42 employees best characterized the general understanding of the entire CBK population.
In this research the product-centric data model was selected owing to its critical packages of traceability and quality appropriate for the food industry. The traceability package contained entities that enabled tracing and tracking the product throughout its lifecycle and the quality package contained entities that represent the quality features of the product.
Based on the data collected the traceability components missing in the current traceability system in the coffee sub-sector. The proposed model incorporates the missing traceability components and ensured that the product-centric parameters of traceability and quality are enhanced. Additional technologies included are traceability standards and bar-coding technologies thereby improving and customizing the model for the coffee sub-sector in Kenya
The model ensures that adequate information is generated at the right time and is available to the next person in the supply chain. It enhances identification of the coffee product, movements and processes done in the supply chain. It also allows the supply chain players to process , store, handle and display the product safely and correctly.
Description
Keywords
Coffee, Supply chain, Model, Kenya