Assessing the Factors Affecting Supply Chain Performance in the Handloom Industry in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Supply chain performance (SCP) plays a critical role in improving efficiency and competitiveness; however, its application in traditional craft-based industries remains limited. In Sri Lanka’s handloom sector, SCP concepts and performance metrics are poorly understood, and empirical evidence is scarce. This study addresses this gap by providing a structured assessment of SCP in the handloom industry, focusing on government-operated centres in the Central Province. Owing to the absence of systematically recorded operational data in the sector, this study adopts a perception-based approach using expert judgment. Qualitative interviews were conducted to map the supply chain and identify inefficiencies. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied with nine experts to prioritise SCP-related factors. Additionally, 24 SCP measures were evaluated by 20 experts using a Likert-scale questionnaire to assess current performance levels. The results identify sourcing as the most influential determinant of SCP, followed by operational, transportation, and distribution, and market factors. Economic and customer satisfaction dimensions show satisfactory performance, whereas operational efficiency and flexibility remain weak. This study contributes academically by extending SCP frameworks to a traditional, data-constrained industry using a hybrid methodological approach. In practice, it offers policymakers actionable strategies to enhance efficiency while preserving the sector’s cultural integrity.