ASSESMENET OF DRY PORT PERFORMANACE: - (The Case of Mekelle Dry Port)

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to assess the performance of the Mekelle dry port based on customer perspectives using indicators such as customs clearance, infrastructure and equipment, service providing, handling efficiency and incidents, delays and waiting times. The study also aims to identifying the key opportunity and challenges hindering dry port performance and what should be done to improve and eliminate the problems that affect the performance of the dry port. A descriptive research design was employed to explain the performance variables. Both closed and open-ended questionnaires were designed and distributed to respondents using a convenience sampling technique to select Mekelle Dry Port customers. A total of 248 questionnaires were distributed to the Mekelle dry port proportionally, and 237 questionnaires were returned, while 11 questionnaires were not returned. Therefore, 237 responses were used for data analysis. The result of the descriptive analysis of the responses of customers of the Mekelle dry port shows that among the five Indicators of Mekelle dry port performance measurement, Infrastructure and Equipment has the lowest mean value of 2.35, followed by Handling Efficiency with a mean value of 2.62. The remaining three indicators, namely service provided, Incidents, Delay and Waiting time has a mean value of 3.11 and custom clearance, had mean values of 3.02, 3.11, and 3.44, respectively. The study results revealed that a significant number of variables showed discrepancies, indicating that the overall performance of the dry port was far below its customers’ expectations. Thus, customers of the Mekelle dry port were less satisfied with its services. Consequently, the overall dry port performance was below average. The discontent for infrastructure and equipment is the highest score that calls for immediate action by the Mekelle dry port management because the improvement in this indicator significantly changes the customer’s satisfaction and improves its performance as well. Therefore, the Mekelle dry port should invest more in infrastructure and equipment. Second, it is 10 important to invest in incident, delay, and waiting time to avoid unnecessary wastages and extra costs. By doing so, the Mekelle dry port could have sustained competitive advantages as the human aspect of an organization is not easily imitated by competitors.