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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 

Inventories are the soul and life wire of any manufacturing organization. It is also regarded as the next most current assets of an establishment after cash at hand or in the bank, this is so because, and it can be easily converted into cash, especially the finished goods, once it is sold and paid for. Inventory control is an important and expensive activity which is often neglected and under-rated in many organizations both in the public and private sectors, and an efficient inventory control system could be used to advantage, in reducing costs and ensuring increased profitability for an organization. Inventory could simply be defined as any idle resource of an enterprise. It is commonly used to indicate raw materials in process, finished, packaging, spares and others, stocked in order to meet an expected demand or distribution in the future.
Inventory control involves activities designed towards the effective management and control of all inventory items held n stock. Morrison (1982) defines inventory control as a means by which materials of the correct quantity and quality is made available, as and when required with due regard to economy in storage and ordering cost, purchase price and working capital. From the above definition, it could be deduced that inventory control is a system aimed at maintaining a balance flow of materials by paper arranging in a continuous basis, receipts and issues, so that any given time, the stock balance are adequate to meet current operational requirement. Inventory control however, involves the actual implementation and carrying out of policies which management has established, to regulate stock balance without excess or deficiencies. In modern supply management, inventory control is the real control function; it encompasses all basic aims of the stores operation. The basic concept of inventory control is quite simple, the right material, in the right quantity and quality, at the right time and place. The element of cost in relation to inventory control also plays a vital role. All businesses require inventories, which are the substantial parts of the total assets. Financially, inventories are very important to manufacturing companies. On the balance sheet, they usually represent from 20%, to 60% of the total assets; As inventories are used, their values are converted into cash, which improves cash flow and return on investment. There is a cost for carrying inventories which increases operating cost and decreases profit. It is common to lose some of them by ways of obsolescence, theft, physical deterioration, damages amongst others. It important that these assets must be well managed to ensure that only the required quantities are available, well stored and safely transferred into and within the organization. 
Control and management of inventories are crucial factors in the success of failure of manufacturing and nonmanufacturing organizations. For example, insufficient inventory seriously disrupt the production distribution cycle that is so vital in survival of all manufacturing companies. Also, excessive stock cripple a firms cash flow and thus endanger its liquidity positive. The availabilities and quantities of those inventories are the parameters for determining their efficiency. The investments in inventories usually are so high that proper and continuous surveillance should be put on them. The essence of inventory control is to strike a balance between carrying to much stock and carrying too little. In today manufacturing environment many firm produce a wide range of products requiring many components, though the cost of materials, may vary from one industry to another. However, in many organizations, materials cost materials cost about 50% of the total value of finished goods. The consequences of these high magnitude is that the problem of planning and managing materials in these organizations are complex, but efficiency and effectiveness with which these firms do its buying, storing and issuing of materials might well determine the firms profitability and vice-versa. Therefore, it is in recognition of these that the researcher has chosen the topic "An evaluation of inventory control system and its impact on organizational performance". Though the term inventory control may have different meanings to different users. More often, the term is usually constructed to mean material control or stock control.
1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In actual practices, the vast majority of manufacturing distribution companies suffer from lower customer and service, higher costs and excessive inventories than are necessary. Inventory control problems are usually the result of using poor processes, practices and antiquated support systems. The inventory management is much more complex than the uninitiated understand. Infact, in many companies the inventory control department is perceived as little more than a clerical function. The likely result of this approach to inventory control is lots of material shortages, excessive inventories, high cost and poor customer service.
It is also important to note that, inventory control, if poorly managed can contribute to increased expenses, lead to lose of profits to the firm due to stock outs, and deterioration of stock due to over stocking among others. However, despites its importance, theoretical development, and popularity in the business and academic press, there is little empirical research that clearly defines inventory management and investigates its impact on the firm as a whole consequently more information is needed to understand successful inventory management and problems encounter therein.
1.3  THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major objective of the study is to examine how inventory control system can be used to evaluate organizational performance. Therefore, its specific objectives include the following: Cost objective, to minimize sum of relevant cost. Services objective, desired customer services levels significantly affect inventory levels. To find and tract down all the processing data-s in an inventory system repository. To define a procedures, by which assets are identified and maintained in the inventory system. To smooth the flow of goods through the production process. To provide protection against the uncertainties of supply and demand. To obtain a reasonable utilization of people and equipment.
1.4  RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To expand the frontiers of the objectives, the following research questions are raised.
• What constitute inventory control? 
• What constitute organizational performance?
 • What is the relationship (if any) between inventory control and organizational performance? 
1.5  RESEARCH HYPOTHESES In order to test the above relationship, the following hypothesis are formulated
• Null hypotheses Ho 
• Alternative hypothesis Hi
Hypothesis One
Ho: Efficient inventory control does not lead to reduction of cost in an organization.
Hi: Efficient inventory control lead to reduction of cost in an organization. 
Hypotheses Two 
Ho: There is no significant relationship between inventory control and organizational profitability. 
Hi: There is significant relationship between inventory control and organizational profitability. 
1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The necessity of the study is to determine, whether inventory control system can be used to evaluates an organizational performance. The outcome of the study will assist the store manager in the arrangement of the stores, movement of stocks and records keeping and in the maintenance of adequate stock level to avoid too much of stock and / or too little that lead to stock out situation. It will also assist the organization in developing its policy on inventory control system and procedure.
1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS
This provides sources of the definitions:
• Inventory: This refers to the stock on hand at a particular time comprising raw material, goods in the process of manufacturing and finished goods. Jhingan and Stephen (2004). 
• Inventory Management: This refers to the activities involved in planning and controlling of sock levels and turning of order to leave inventory cost at its minimum. Magge et al. (2004)
• Re-Order Level: This is the level of stock at which order must be placed such that stock level" would not exceed the maximum level or fall below minimum during the lead time.
• Carrying Cost / Holding Cost: This is the cost which a firm actually incurs for carrying the stock. It includes interest on capital, storage cost, and allowance for spoilage. Jhingan and Stephen (2004)
• Ordering Cost: This include the managerial, clerics material, transportation and receiving costs associated with a purchase or production order. Datta (1986)
• Purchase / Item Cost: This represents the selling price of a unit of stock
• Economic Order Quantity: This is the quantity per order to fulfill annual demand and leave total inventory costs at its minimum. It is the quantity level at which total carrying cost equate total order cost.

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