The influence of supply chain management practices on competitive advantage in the Malaysian timber industry: supply chain responsiveness as a mediator

Effective supply chain management (SCM) is critical for businesses functioning in competitive and dynamic environments, particularly in resource-based sectors such as Malaysia’s timber industry. Despite its economic importance, the industry continues to struggle with sustaining a robust competitive advantage, often hindered by slow market responsiveness due to inefficient supply chain practices. To address these industry challenges, this study examines the impact of specific SCM practices - namely, strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, information sharing, and postponement - on supply chain responsiveness (SCR) and competitive advantage. It further investigates the mediating role of SCR in the relationship between these SCM practices and competitive advantage. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing survey data collected from 116 responses from Malaysian timber companies in Selangor and Johor. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that customer relationship and SCR positively drive competitive advantage directly, whereas postponement exerts a significant negative direct effect. Furthermore, the results confirm that SCR successfully acts as a full intermediary mechanism for strategic supplier partnership and information sharing, proving that these upstream and internal practices must first cultivate responsiveness to translate into a competitive advantage. Theoretically, this study contributes to the supply chain literature by demonstrating how SCR operationalizes SCM practices into a competitive edge. Practically, the findings offer actionable strategies for managers in the Malaysian timber industry to optimize responsiveness and bolster their strategic, competitive positioning in the market.