CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigerian Breweries Plc.,
incorporated in 1946, is the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria.
Its first bottle of beer, STAR Lager,
rolled off the bottling lines of its Lagos Brewery in June 1949. Other breweries
were subsequently commissioned by the company, including Aba Brewery in 1957,
Kaduna Brewery in 1963, and Ibadan Brewery in 1982. In September 1993, the
company acquired its fifth brewery in Enugu state, and in October 2003, its
sixth brewery, sited at Ama in Enugu. Ama Brewery is the largest brewery in
Nigeria and one of the most modern worldwide. Operations at Enugu brewery were
discontinued in 2004 leaving the company with five operational breweries.
The company has a portfolio of
high-quality brands, including Star Lager Beer (launched in 1949); Gulder Lager
Beer (1970); Maltina (1976); Legend Extra Stout (1992); and Amstel Malta
(1994). The company also re-launched Heineken Lager into the Nigerian market in
June 1998.
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 therefore, I
decided to embark on this project to design automated inventory control system
software that will help eradicate these ugly measures
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 a sales order fulfilment 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 and shortens routes within warehouse and distribution centres. It also
improves cash flow, visibility and decision making providing efficient
execution of tasks using this fast and reliable computerised method.
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 PROBLEMS
The Nigerian Breweries PLC is to an extent manually operated
and reveals a number of problems.
vThe 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.
vThe long list of supply orders waiting to be
attended to on daily basis.
vThe control system is time consuming, less
accurate and less efficient, and the environment is not user friendly.
vInaccuracies 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
AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
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
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT
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.
The new system will among other things help to;
vMaintain accuracy in database handling.
vImprove flexibility.
vIncrease efficiency and reliability of the
system.
vProvide a user friendly interface.
vSave time, manpower and paperwork.
These, no doubt will possibly affect the quality of services
rendered to customers.
1.5 OBJECTIVES
OF THE PROJECT
The main objective of this study is to develop a
computerised inventory control management system. Others include;
i.
To provide total asset visibility.
ii.
To allow reduced inventory stocking levels giving full
inventory history.
iii.
To reduce lead time, shelf space, and errors due to
damage, fatigue of staff and overall cost of operations.
iv.
To facilitate “just in time” deliveries.
v.
To provide full process control for products.
vi.
To provide higher level security as the system would be
passworded to prevent unauthorised access.
vii.
To shorten cross docking time and speeds up sort/pick
up rate.
viii.
To help the management plan, monitor, optimize
resources and ascertain their financial position at any time.
1.6
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
The
scope of the project covers the development of a computer based database
application for use by the three sections (Automation – Packaging, Utilities
and Brewhouse) at the Ama brewery to replace their old paper notebook recording
system.
The requirements include
designing a user interface for the application and providing options for a user
to log into the application by supplying the correct username and password
combination; register new customers and view a list of already registered
customers; to keep track of stock going out and coming into the company’s
warehouse; view users registered on the database; create, delete or edit the
information for a user, etc. It also covers writing the background programming
to ensure that the interface works with the database through the underlying
codes to perform the required actions. If also involves the testing,
improvement and optimization of the application.
1.7
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.
InformationSystem: A collection of procedures,
people, instructions and equipments to produce information in a useful form.
Processing: This is dealing with
something according to an established procedure.
1.8 Project
Report Organization
This report is organized into
five chapters. The first chapter takes
care of introduction: background, aims and objectives, justification and scope
of the project. Chapter two talks about the literature review of this
work. In chapter three, the project
methodology, data collection, analysis, limitations of the existing system,
system design, system flowchart and top down design were done. The input, processing and output modules are
critically analysed.
In chapter four, system
implementation, testing and integration: choice of development tools, system
requirements, and testing were carefully done. Finally chapter five closes up with
summary, recommendations and conclusions: limitation, Bill of Engineering
Measurement and Engineering (BEME), bibliography, appendices