ABSTRACT
This research work is concise and
generally summarizes the activities duly carried out in the design and
implementation of an automated inventory control system for a manufacturing
organization. The system is designed to efficiently handle the movement and
tracking of goods through the replacement of human workers by technology. The
manual method or intervention is labour intensive, costly, and error prone and
cannot ensure the inventory remains up-to-date due to oversight and internal
shrinkage. With the proposed new system, inventory can be updated in real time
without product movement, scanning, or human involvement. The automated system
allows inventory status to be determined and shipping and receiving documents
to be generated automatically triggering automatic orders for products that are
low in inventory. The study outlines the main concepts of the analysis and
design methodology of the proposed system, compares it to the existing and goes
further to explain the design and implementation of the system using Visual
Basic 6.0 for the database. The fact finding techniques employed is interview,
observation, online and library research.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification Page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
List of Figures viii
List of Tables viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Purpose of the Study 2
1.4 Significance of the Study 2
1.5 Objectives of the Study 2
1.6 Scope of the Study 3
1.7 Limitations of the Study 3
1.8 Definition of Basic Concepts 4
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review 5
2.1 Comprehensive Overview 5
2.2 Types of Inventory Control Systems 6
2.3 How Inventory Control Systems Really Work 8
2.4 What Industries Use Inventory Control
Systems 10
2.5 Warehouse Management Systems 12
2.6 Automated Inventory Control System Software 15
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 System Analysis and Design 17
3.1 Methodology 17
3.2 Data Collection 17
3.3 Analysis of the Existing System 17
3.4 Limitation of the Existing System 18
3.5 System Design 18
3.6 Data Base Design 19
3.7 Organizational Structure 21
3.8 System Flow Chat 23
3.9 Top down Design Diagram 25
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Implementation, Testing and Packaging 27
4.1 Choice of Development Tools 27
4.2 System Requirements 27
4.3 Implementation 28
4.4 Implementation of Supplier Record Form 37
4.5 Testing 38
4.6 Packaging (Integration) 39
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Limitations, Recommendations, Beme
& Conclusion 40
5.1 Summary 40
5.2 Limitation 41
5.3 Recommendation 41
5.4 Bill of Engineering Measurement &
Evaluation (BEME) 42
5.5 Conclusion 43
References 44
Appendix 1 46
Appendix 1 Supply Form 53
Appendix 2 Sales Invoice 54
Appendix
3 Supplier Record 55
Appendix
4 Customer Record 56
LIST
OF FIGURES
Fig
3.7 Organizational Structure 23
Fig 3.8 System Flowchart 24
Fig 3.9 Top down Design Diagram 25
Fig 4.3.1 Implementation of Program Design Process 29
Fig 4.3.2 Data Base Entry and Search Engine 30
Fig 4.3.3 Main Menu Transaction Process (Receive
supply) 31
Fig 4.3.4 Main Menu Transaction Process (Sales form) 32
Fig 4.3.5 Main Menu Transaction & Exit (sales
form) 33
Fig 4.3.6 Splash Screen; the Login Screen 33
Fig 4.3.7 Main menu form 34
Fig
4.3.8 Receive supply form 35
Fig
4.3.9 Sales form 36
Fig
4.4 Supplier record form 37
Fig
4.4.1 Edit form 37
Fig
4.5 System Testing Process 38
LIST OF TABLES
3.6 Data base; login 19
3.6.1 Transaction
table; supply form 20
3.6.2 Sales
Table 20
3.6.3 Customers
Table 21
5.1 Bill
Of Engineering Measurement & Evaluation (BEME) 42
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
An
inventory control system contains a list of orders to be filled and then
prompts workers to pick the necessary items, and provides them with packaging
and shipping information. Inventory control may be used to automate sales order
fulfillment process and also manage in and outward material of hardware.
Automation is the replacement of human workers by technology. For optimal sales
and inventory management process, robust functionality is needed for managing
logistics facilities. Warehouse management functions for inventory control
cover internal warehouse movements and storage and its support helps in the
recording and tracking of materials on basis of both quantity and value.
This
application takes care of all supply orders reducing cost for warehousing,
transportation while improving customer service. It significantly improves
inventory turns, optimizes flow of goods. It also improves cash flow,
visibility and decision making providing efficient execution of tasks using
this fast and reliable computerised method
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The
Nigerian Breweries PLC was established in the year 1946. It aims at providing
satisfaction and nourishment to the Nigerian population through the
distribution of drinks like beer, coca-cola, fanta, sprite etc. It is second to
none and for this reason, the demand is high and the company responds to the
increasing demand by stabilizing supply to strike a balance. Justifiably, the
company has the problem of keeping adequate record of goods transfer and since
it is done manually, associated problems of insecurity, high cost of operation
and delay in supply arise. Data processing in Nigerian Breweries PLC is
presently carried out using people, pens, and paper to control stock and
inventory.
The
design and development of an automated inventory control system for the
Nigerian Breweries PLC will no doubt bring immeasurable relief from the
problems associated with the manual system.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The Nigerian Breweries
PLC is to an extent manually operated and reveals a number of problems.
·
The recording of sales and cash
received are done manually on a book that appears rough. Thus, the books are
exposed to physical damage, information can be lost and dust particles are
accumulated.
·
The long list of supply orders
waiting to be attended to on daily basis.
·
The control system is time consuming,
less accurate and less efficient, and the environment is not user friendly.
·
Inaccuracies often ensue from human
error.
The manual system is
quite tedious and can be reduced or eliminated with the introduction of the
proposed system.
1.3
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of this study is to improve current operational process in the Nigerian
Breweries PLC to its full capacity by developing efficient computer software
that can handle inventory in a computerised fashion.
1.4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This
study is primarily aimed at increasing efficiency in operations, reducing
maintenance and running cost, monitoring the supply of goods and its
distribution and increase profit in the Nigerian Breweries PLC by introducing
an automated inventory control system.
1.5
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to develop a
computerised inventory control management system. Others include;
i.
It provides total asset visibility.
ii.
It allows reduced inventory stocking
levels giving full inventory history.
iii.
It reduces lead time, shelf space, and
errors due to damage, fatigue of staff and overall cost of operations.
iv.
It
facilitates “just in
time” delivery
v.
It provides full process control for
products.
vi.
It provides higher level security as the
system would be password to prevent unauthorised access.
vii.
It shortens cross docking time and speeds
up sort/pick up rate.
viii.
It helps the management plan, monitor,
optimize resources and ascertain their financial position at any time.
1.6
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
scope of this study covers the Nigerian Breweries PLC as a whole, and its customers
which include retailers, distributors and the general public.
1.7
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
project was constrained by the following factors:
(a)
Financial Constraints
Bearing
in mind the economic state of the nation, it was found difficult in making both
ends meet, because of the exorbitant nature of things nowadays in travelling
for the collection of data needed for the project.
(b)
Time Constraints
Looking
at the interval between the resumption and vacation of the final semester for
the project to be completed, the time given seemed to be short for the
collection of required information for better work to be done.
(c)
Non-Availability of Material
During
this project, it was noticed that the required materials needed for the project
are not documented. Those that were documented lacked storage facilities where
they can be reached.
1.8
DEFINITION OF BASIC CONCEPTS
Automation: This
is the use of technology or computers to control and process data reducing the
need for human intervention.
Database:
This
refers to a large store of related data on a computer that a user can
access and modify.
Password:
This
is a secret code that must be entered into a computer to enable access
to its applications. It is made up of numbers, letters, special characters or a
combination of any of the above categories.
Inventory
Control System: A list of orders to be filled, and prompts
workers to pick the necessary items and provides them with packaging and shipping
information.
Computerization:
This
is the conversion of a manually operated system to a controlled,
organized and automated system.
Research:
A
careful study of a subject to discover facts, establish a theory or
develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered.
System:
A
set of computer components functioning together.
Technology:
The
study of techniques of mobilizing resources such as information for
accomplishing objectives that benefit man and his environment.
Software:
A
computer program or set of instructions that direct a computer to
perform processing functions.
Information
System: A collection of procedures, people, instructions and
equipment to produce information in a useful form.
Processing:
This
is dealing with something according to an established procedur
Login To Comment