This study aims to investigate the effects of liquidity, financial leverage, capital structure, and operating cash flow on financial performance, with financial distress serving as a mediating variable. The population comprises transportation and logistics companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2019 to 2023, totaling 37 companies. The sample includes 20 companies, with quarterly financial reports yielding 400 observations. Secondary data were employed, and purposive sampling was utilized for sample selection. The analysis was conducted using panel data analysis at a 5% significance level, facilitated by STATA Version 17 software. Mediation was tested utilizing the Sobel test with a critical value of 1.96. The results reveal that liquidity significantly impacts both financial distress and financial performance; financial leverage significantly affects both financial distress and financial performance; capital structure significantly influences financial distress but does not significantly affect financial performance; operating cash flow does not significantly impact financial distress but significantly affects financial performance. Collectively, liquidity, financial leverage, capital structure, and operating cash flow significantly influence financial distress. Furthermore, liquidity, financial leverage, capital structure, operating cash flow, and financial distress together have a significant effect on financial performance. Mediation analysis indicates that financial distress significantly mediates the relationships between liquidity, financial leverage, capital structure, and financial performance, whereas financial distress does not significantly mediate the effect of operating cash flow on financial performance. It is recommended that transportation and logistics companies listed on the IDX actively enhance liquidity, optimally manage leverage and capital structure, and strengthen operational cash flow management to minimize financial distress risk and sustain financial performance.

Mitsubishi Chemical Indonesia is a producer of Purify Terepthalic Acid (PTA) in Indonesia with an important role in meeting the primary needs of the Indonesian population by managing raw materials to produce purified terepthalic acid. Purified terepthalic acid is the main raw material for polyester fiber. The problem that occurs is the phenomenon of the bullwhip effect, namely the occurrence of fluctuations between orders and demand which results in a shortage of raw materials or low inventory which can cause production to stop. So the purpose of this study is to calculate the value of the bullwhip effect, determine the causes of the bullwhip effect, and determine solutions to reduce the bullwhip effect. This study begins by calculating the value of the bullwhip effect at the two echelons. The method used in this research is FMEA. The results of this study are the value of the bullwhip effect at echelon 1 (suppliers and PPIC) = 1.27 and echelon 2 (PPIC and distributors) = 0.93. This value indicates the occurrence of a bullwhip effect in echelon 1 while echelon 2 does not indicate the occurrence of a bullwhip effect. The dominant causes of the bullwhip effect are market competition, rising material prices, demand forecasting that is not close to accurate and the number of orders for raw materials in large quantities. The proposed improvement is to collaborate with suppliers and customers to get guaranteed orders and demand that are fixed and sustainable. This value indicates the occurrence of a bullwhip effect in echelon 1 while echelon 2 does not indicate the occurrence of a bullwhip effect. The dominant causes of the bullwhip effect are market competition, rising material prices, demand forecasting that is not close to accurate and the number of orders for raw materials in large quantities. The proposed improvement is to collaborate with suppliers and customers to get guaranteed orders and demand that are fixed and sustainable. This value indicates the occurrence of a bullwhip effect in echelon 1 while echelon 2 does not indicate the occurrence of a bullwhip effect. The dominant causes of the bullwhip effect are market competition, rising material prices, demand forecasting that is not close to accurate and the number of orders for raw materials in large quantities. The proposed improvement is to collaborate with suppliers and customers to get guaranteed orders and demand that are fixed and sustainable.