THE EFFECT OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ON THE PROFITABILITY OF THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY (A CASE STUDY OF NESTLE NIGERIA PLC)

ABSTRACT

The main thrust of the research was to examine the effect of materials management on the profitability of the manufacturing company with special reference to Nestle Nigeria Pic. The concepts of materials management, physical distribution management, and logistics management are the primary materials organizational tools which have been used successfully in the past and will be used increasingly in the future to achieve closer coordination and control of a firm various materials activities.

For the purpose of analysis, the simple percentage distribution was used in the presentation and interpretation of the data collected. To this end, the data were tabulated in a frequency distribution form and the corresponding percentage equivalent were calculated and recorded respectively. To test the hypotheses earlier formulated, the chi-square statistical method was also adopted.

In the light of field discoveries, the information gathered will assist the management of any organization in general and Nestle Nigeria Pic in particular, in taking appropriate steps of inculcating means of managing materials as parts of the prerequisite for improving organizational productivity.

Every organization expects her employees to put in effective and efficient services.

Manager and staff in manufacturing must have good basic understanding of the factors influencing materials flow. This will assist them in making good use of the available materials, materials should be seen as the most important resources for any organizational production. Without the materials, no one can do anything. Effective management of materials should be felt as it must improve customers' satisfaction at all times. Hence, materials effectively managed will surely lead to organizational productivity and good materials should motivate worker's effort into production. This should be carried out alongside other motivational packages.

TABLES OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

1. 1      Background to the Study

1.2      Statement of the Problem

1.3      Objective of the Study

1.4      Research Questions

1.5      Significance of the Study

1.6      Scope and Limitations of the Study

1.7      Scope and Limitations of the Study

1.8      operational Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0      Introduction

2.1      Historical Background of Nestle Nigeria P1c

2.2      Conceptual Framework

2.2.1   The Concept of Materials Management.

2.2.2   The Concept of Profitability.

2.3      The Relationship between Materials Management and Profitability

2.4      Materials Requirements Planning and Capacity Requirements

2.4.1   Capacity Planning

2.4.2   Capacity and Inventory of Materials

2.4.3   Throughput Time of Purchase of Raw Materials

2.4.4   Integrated Materials System

2.5      Theoretical Framework

2.6      The Planning Decisions and Approach in Materials Management.

2.7      Production Utilities in Materials Management.

2.8      Customer Satisfaction as It relates to materials Management.

2.9      Material Availability in Materials Management.

2.10    The Purchasing Approach of Materials

2.11    Purchasing and Inventory Policy in Materials Management.

2.12    Time of Purchasing in Materials Management.

2.13    Source of Purchases of Materials

2.14    Summary of Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0      Introduction

3.1      Research Design

3.2      Population of Study

3.3      Sample and Sampling Procedure

3.4      Data Collection Instruments  

3.5      Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR:

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS

4.0      Introduction

4.1      Respondents' characteristics and classification

4.2      Presentation and analysis of data according to research question.  

4.3      Presentation and analysis of data according to test of hypotheses

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0      Introduction

5.1      Summary of Findings

5.2      Conclusion

5.3      Recommendations

REFERENCES

APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Over the last decade, our world has changed dramatically due to the growing phenomenon of globalization and revolution in information technology. There is tremendous demand on companies to lower costs, enlarge product assortment, improve product quality, and provide reliable delivery dates through effective and efficient coordination of production and distribution activities. To achieve these conflicting goals, companies must constantly re-engineer or change their business practices and employ information systems (Mahesh, 2006). Materials Management has always been an area of scrutiny for organizations. This has become a central focal point as trends from the supply chain arena have indicated that substantial operating cash can be freed with leaner and more efficient handling of inventory.

As organizations examine the state of their inventory, they often find that visibility across locations and warehouses are inadequate, stock levels are inconsistent, demand is uncertain, and communication between stocking locations or warehouses may be minimal or non­existent. Among other things, the lack of an integrated interaction between' peripheral systems and materials managers leads to unnecessary purchasing and overstocking.

The concepts of "materials management", "physical distribution management," and "logistics management" are the primary materials organizational tools which have been used successfully in the past and will be used increasingly in the future to achieve closer coordination and control of a firm various materials activities.

In general materials management is concerned with bringing materials from outside of an organization to the point of production and moving in processes.

If we distinguish between the operational function of customer service and the resultant goal of customer value and satisfaction, this discussion leads us to conclude the consequences of materials management are lower costs and improved customer value and satisfaction to achieve competitive advantage. Industry reports support this contention (Performance Management Group, 2001).

The fast developing and technologically changing environment has placed before the materials manager a tremendously challenging task and responsibility. The task is really herculean when .we recognize the importance of materials, equipment’s and components per annum that go into the production channels. The challenges become tough because the money tied up in inventory or materials and equipment are enormous. In fact, in many organizations (big and small), materials form the largest single expenditure item. According to Subramanian (1974) an analysis of the financial statements of a large number of private and public sector organizations indicates that materials account for nearly 60% of the total expenditure. Consequently, the importance of materials management lies in the fact that any significant contribution made by the materials manager in reducing materials cost will go a long way in improving the profitability and rate of return on investment. Such increase in profitability, no doubt, can be affected by increasing sales.

While most of the writing and discussion on materials management is on acquisition and standards, much of the day to day work conducted in materials management deals with quality assurance issues. Parts and materials are tested, both before purchase orders are placed and during use, to ensure there are no short or long term issues that would disrupt the supply chain. This aspect of material management is most important to the heavily automated industries, since failure rates due to faulty parts can slow or even stop production lines, throwing off timetables for production goals (Mentzer, 2001).

The other \ major component of materials management is standards compliance. There are standards that are followed in supply chain management that are critical to a supply chain's function. For example, a supply chain that uses just-in-time or lean replenishment requires absolute perfection in the shipping of parts and materials from purchasing agent to warehouse to place of destination. Systems reliant on vendor-managed inventories must have up-to-date computerized inventories and robust ordering systems for outlying vendors to place orders on (Hax and Candea, 2004).

Effective materials management according to Christine (2002) is essential in order to provide the best service to customers, produce at maximum efficiency, and manage inventories at predetermined levels to stabilize investments m inventories. Successful materials management requires the development of a highly integrated and coordinated system involving sales forecasting, purchasing, receiving, storage, production, shipping, and actual sales. Both the theory of costing materials and inventories and the practical mechanics of cost calculations and record keeping must be considered.

Costing materials present some important, often complex, and sometime highly controversial questions concerning the costing of materials used in production and the cost of inventory remaining to be consumed in a future period. In financial accounting, the subject is usually presented as a problem of inventory valuation; in cost accounting, the primary problem is the determination of the cost of various materials consumed in production and a proper charge to cost of goods sold (Freeman, 2006).

1.2   Statement of the Problem

Many organizations seem to be failing in the realization of the corporate goals and objectives. However, for most of these organizations (particularly manufacturing organizations), materials are crucial aspect of the firm's prosperity and goal attainment (Burt, 2003). 'The challenge is that some firms do not have genuine and efficient management of the purchase, storage and usage of the materials. The importance of materials management is evident in the amount of expenditure allotted to materials and the significant contribution of materials to organizational performance. Efficient materials management will reduce materials cost, improves profitability and increase rate of return on investment. Such increase in profitability, no doubt, can be influenced by increasing sales. In fact, as market pressure intensifies, organizations will be forced to cut down the costs. Material Management is all about purchasing mix. It involves the procurement of materials in store and the ability to know the total number of available goods that are to be issued out on request. All the functions are primarily carried out by the store manager whose mission is to ensure that goods are not below average as to satisfy the demands of customers. The general importance of materials management is to ensure that the demand and sales of the company are streamlined as to enable it to be aware when the management or the organization is short of goods and will not go to the extent of making use of their buffer stock. (Maloni, 1997).

1.3    Objective of the Study

This study will show with statistical evidences that materials management will significantly increase the profitability, wellbeing and productivity of the organization. However, the specific objectives of the study are:

1.              To examine the impact of materials management on the productivity of the organization.

2.              To examine the impact of materials management on profitability.

3.              To examine the effect of materials management on the organizational efficiency and performance.

4.              To examine the impact of materials management on customers' satisfaction.

5.              To examine the effect of materials management on the organizational coordination.

1.4    Research Questions

In this study, attempt will be made to provide answers to the following questions

1.                What is the impact of materials management on the productivity of the organization?

2.                What is the impact of materials management on profitability?

3.                What is the effect of materials management on the organizational efficiency and performance?

4.                What is the impact of materials management on customers' satisfaction?

5.                What is the effect of materials management on the organizational coordination?

1.5    Significance of the Study

The research work was taken up to show the significance of materials management to aggregate performances of the organization. Apparently, all organizations, whether service oriented or good oriented need to pay attention to the essence of materials and materials management in their organizations. Consequently, it is clear that the contribution and importance of this study cannot be over emphasized.

The results of this study should also assist in defining new methods / strategies of materials management for manufacturing sector in particular and management organizations in general.

Finally, the results of this study should help scholars, students and upcoming researchers in the conduct of future research.

1.6    Research Hypotheses

This study will be geared towards testing the following hypotheses.

Hypothesis One

H_O:   There is no significant relationship between materials management and organizational productivity.

H₁:   There is significant relationship between materials management and organizational productivity.

Hypothesis Two

Ho:   There is no significant relationship between materials management and profitability.

H₁:   There is significant relationship between materials management and profitability.

Hypothesis Three

Ho:   There is no significant relationship between materials management and organizational efficiency and performance.

H₁:   There is significant relationship between materials management and organization~ efficiency and. performance.

Hypothesis Four

Ho:   There is no significant relationship between materials management and customer's satisfaction.

H₁:    There is significant relationship between materials management and customer's satisfaction.

Hypothesis Five

Ho:   There is no significant relationship between materials management and organizational coordination?

H₁:    There is significant relationship between materials management and organizational coordination?