Impact Of Computer In Materials Management

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Some years ago, there has been some controversy about what entails the application of computer in material management. The world of computer is basically a friendly one, and no special credential is needed to become part of it while it’s true that modern computer system involves complex techniques and theories, their use is becoming easier all the time. Computer have a general purpose nature which makes them endless versatile.
These controversies arose among planner, student’s material management business executives, top management and lot of more people. Those who recognised the computer system have concluded that it has been in existence since the evolution of man and witnessed a remarkable development of data processing equipment used in aiding the recording, analysis, and reporting of information in the operation of complex business system. According to Uzor purchasing management concepts principle and practice (2000. 417) to start with the following:
1 Computerization in material management means converting the manual system into a computer system for efficient operations and many procurement organisations are now using computer system. Thousands of requisition are received and processed daily, many requests for quotation are sent out to suppliers, many quotations are received from suppliers and also analyzed and the volume of work involve in materials management is large and require computer system to make it fast and easier to manage.
2 The application of computers in materials right is to ensure that the immediate availability of much more complete data for use in making purchase and related material decision because of its fantastic speed, the computer can supply management with virtually instantaneous reports which right otherwise take an army of clarks weeks or months to prepare and to update. The tuneless of such reports enables a materials management executive to manage by exception and to do a more effective and economical job of purchasing and managing the flow of materials throughout the operation in camela vegetable oil company limited Owerri.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
The basic and critical problems of research are seldom the problem that appears on the surface. It is therefore necessary to probe beneath the surface, in order to find out the nature and gravity of the problems. This is vital and must be dome correctly to guide the researcher on what aspect to channel her research work.
Meanwhile, any mistake at the first step will lead to committing first degree error, that is selecting wrong problem and this will result to subsequent mistakes and errors.
Generally, a lot of private and public establishment are yet to recognize the impact of computer in materials management in their various company Lysons (1981: 56 – 57) other includes;
1 There is always high cost of money and effort in installing a computerization system which may produce similar companies from adopting this type of system.
2 It is always difficult to correct errors when they occur e.g. when the wrong number is entered on a computer transaction.
3 It is not as flexible as a manual procedures once a computer ha been programmed the routine of operation must be followed since deviations will lead to confusion and mistake.
4 A major breakdown in the computer system could cause choose in the system and in the company’s operational activities.
5 The application of computers system reduces the numbers of staff. This reduction in number of staff results to unemployment and is a big problem particularly in developing companies.
6 Computer systems are only as good as the staff operating them and the data processed and fed into the computer. Badly trained staff or faulty documentation will not be solved by the application of computers in materials management.

1.3 THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
This emphasis on the impact of computer in materials management and it contribution towards the dynamic business environment as regards full application of computer system as playing strategic role in material management. This take place when all the manual system of performing activities in the materials management are converted to automated systems and all the records that are maintained in the company in different files will now be stored in disc or tape files that are used by the computer’s central processing unit (cpu).
It is then imperative to determine the following;
1 To find out whether the view of existing literacy work in any depth exposure has been made in this direction.
2 To conduct an important finding or research into the existing industries and institutions to determine their level of knowledge and short comings, with a view of bringing this focus vise – visa the computer system in material management
3 To explore areas of computer system which are akin to material management activities.
4 To improve the application of materials management through the use of real and collected facts

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research intends every organisation to gain from it in as much that computer system is concerned. Therefore, computer systems are encouraged to be used in the rightly manner. In order to improve and up – date the management activities.
The impact of computerization system will improve the method of issuing purchase order, purchase requisition and reduces tune wastage, cost and the volume of work involved. It will also constitute in solving the problem of mismanagement in an organisation as it will prove room for efficiency and effectiveness.
Furthermore, it is believed that the study will help the company to identify its drawbacks and how to alleviate them which will ultimately contribute to profitability of the organisation thereby reducing number of staff, cost and obsolescence’s.
This in a not shell will help to expose the student who is prepared to enter into the field, the challenges he is likely to face and what would be his contribution. It will equally help our industries or the company in question. Camela Vegetable Oil Company limited Owerri and other big companies to utilize the services of computerisation system in material management so as to benefit from their contribution to profitability and to correct the anomalies cause by the use of “uninformed generals” in carrying out management duties.

1.5 THE RESEARCH QUESTION
To test the assertion requires collecting responses from a group of question hidden in various parts of the questionnaires, with the following questions,
1 Do your organisations achieve maximum advantage with respect to the impact of computer in it’s operation?
2 Is it true that computerization reduces cost, time wastage and the volume of work involved?
3 Does the operation of computer depend on the management policy?
4 What type of sourcing policy does the industry operate?
5 Does the exist organisation structure permit computer system approach?

1.6 HYPOTHESIS
The following research hypothesis will be tested
1 Ho: The effective application of computer has negative impact in material management.
Hi: the effective application of computer has positive impact in material management.
2 Ho: The cost of computerisation in material management is a limiting factor and this discourages the application of computer in an organisation.
3 Hi: The cost of computerization in materials management is not a limiting factors and thus encourages the application of computer in an organisation.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The impact of computer in material management is a wide area of study. But this project will focus attention on computerization in material management as related to Cemela Vegetable Oil company limited Owerri.
The study embraces all the activities that are involved in control, design engineering and other activities which is involed in material cost.
More so, the researcher also carried out an in depth investigation on the reasons why the tremendous benefit derived from material management that are computerized.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
While carrying out this research, the researcher was confronted with numerous limitation which includes:
a. Research Biases: Most respondents although knowing the aim of this research, refused to cooperate. The researcher has to waste some time persuading them to answer one question or the other.
b. Financial constraints: Due to hard economic realities, enough finance that should have allowed a most diversified research was not available.
c. Time constraints: The researcher combined his class work with the research. This made the researcher to experience a very tight schedule. As he had no transport of his own, the problem became even worse.
d. Transportation: Transportation posed a big trait to the project. The researcher wasted much time due to transportation delays thereby getting to the research place very late. At times, interviews arranged will be missed and repeating the journal became inevitable.
e. Attitude of Nigerian’s to research: The tendency of respondents not regarding questionnaire as important, as well as non challant attitude of people to research in this country led to some questionnaire not been returned. Some that were returned due to comply to instructions of the research questionnaire. This militated adversely on the progress of the research work.
f. other factors that limited this work project was that, fact that there is scarcity of materials management textbooks by Nigeria authors in this country, even our lecturers. This made reference to the work project cumbersome.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1 Computer system: according to Leender and Fearon (1997:102) the analysis of proceduces used in performing the purchasing and supply function have been based largely on the use of traditional office equipment and clerical (manual) method.
The computer is an electronic mechanical device which has the ability to accept data (input) processing the data to generate information (output), storing the information and retrieving some for further usage under the control of a stepwise set of instruction called the programmes.
2 Data control: the need for timely and adequate information has led to the development of information system, which is a set of organised procedures which when executed provide information for planning, decision making and controls in organisation.
3 management controls: Anthony defined management control as ensuring that resources are obtained and used effectively and efficiently in the accomplishment of the organisations objectives.
4 Electronics funds transfers (EFT): Electronic funds transfer describes a system whereby a computer user can use his computer system to transfer funs. E.g. make payment to a supplier or deposit account to current account) by sending electronic data to his bank.
5 sourcing: sourcing according to Baily and Farmer (1979:113) is said to be the identification of suitable sources of supply.
6 Quality: This is seen as the totality of features and characteristics of product or a service that bears on the ability to satisfy a state or implied needs.
7 Specification: specification according to Lee and Doubler (1981:48) are detailed descripted of the material, parts and components used in making a product.
8 Procurement: This is defined as the acquisition of goods and services by firms, industries government and their subsidiary agencies such as parastatals. Uzor (2004:page 422)
9 Lead Time: According to Oyeoku (2001: 48) defined lead time as the interval between when a need is perceived and the fulfilment of the need.
10 Engineering process: This means a situation whereby there will be a cooperation between suppliers engineering and that of the buying company.
11 Research: A research is a systematic investigation for the purpose of gaining new knowledge. In order words, it is any study that lead to knowledge the person undertaken the research.
12 Hypothesis: Hypothesis is defined as a conjectural statement which a researcher make ahead of his study and which must be subjected to test to be accepted or rejected.
13 Null hypothesis (H0): Null hypothesis (H0) is an ascertain that the population parameter is not different form what it have been in the pasts. It represent status quo situation or an existing belief use normally assume that the null hypothesis is true until use have sufficient evident to contrary (i.e until the assumption is nullified)
14 Alternative hypothesis (H0): Alternative hypothesis specified a population parameter that is different from the status quo. (what has been on the parts).
15 Data: Data is defined as the gathering of information either from primary source or secondary source.
16 This has been the first choice in a large organisation that is used to reduce the purchase cycle tune and provides an easy relatively cheep means of achieving the speed, which is essential for survival and growth in the present business environment.
17 Electronic mail (E-mail): this is the process of the uses to transmit message back and forth within the organisation and to external parties.
18 Voice Mail: This Mail terms both parties into receptionist who spend their turn at “telephone tay”
19 Research: Research simply means an investigation undertaken information, or resole conflicting ideals of confirms the validity of existing idea. It is also involve an organised process of convincing at dependable solutions to problems through planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data.
20 Questionnaire: question is a list of questions to be answered by a group of people especially to get facts or information for a survey. (Advance learners dictionary)
21 Decision Rule: Decision rule is a rule that simplify the condition under which a null hypothesis may be rejected.
22 The observation techniques: This is a fact funding activity designed to recognize and note facts as they occur.
23 Primary data: This is a data collected by the investigator himself for a particular statistical enquiry.
24 Secondary data: Secondary data are data taken as second – hand information from figures originally collected by some one else.
25 Acceptance rejoins: The acceptance rejoin is a set of sample value that will lead to the acceptance of it while rejection rejoin is the set of sample value dealing to the rejection of Ho.