Software Implementation of a Computerized Water Distribution Company Supply Management System

1.1 Introduction

Increasingly, supply chain management is being recognized as the management of key business processes across the network of organizations that comprise the supply chain. While many have recognized the benefits of a process approach to managing the business and the supply chain, most are vague about what processes are to be considered, what sub-processes and activities are contained in each process, and how the processes interact with each other and with the traditional functional silos. Streamlining cross-company processes is the next great frontier for reducing costs, enhancing quality, and speeding operations. It is where this decade’s productivity wars will be fought. The victors will be those companies that are able to take a new approach to business, working closely with partners to design and manage processes that extend across traditional corporate boundaries. They will be the ones that make the leap from efficiency to super efficiency.

The definition of supply chain management developed and used by The Global Supply Chain Forum: Supply Chain Management is the integration of key business processes from end user through original suppliers that provides products, services, and information that add value for customers and other stakeholders.

The Forum members identified eight key processes that need to be implemented within and across firms in the supply chain. Supply chains encompass the companies and the business activities needed to design, make, deliver, and use a product or service. Businesses depend on their supply chains to provide them with what they need to survive and thrive. Every business fits into one or more supply chains and has a role to play in each of them. The pace of change and the uncertainty about how markets will evolve has made it increasingly important for companies to be aware of the supply chains they participate in and to understand the roles that they play. Those companies that learn how to build and participate in strong supply chains will have a substantial competitive advantage in their markets.

Supply chain management is the coordination of production, inventory, location, and transportation among the participants in a supply chain to achieve the best mix of responsiveness and efficiency for the market being served.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Investigation reveals the following problems of the existing supply management system for water Distribution Company;

1. Most suppliers lack the technical expertise to dispense their duties; the manual system of managing supply records makes the business difficult to manage.
2. Inability to instantly determine customers to supply to that booked for the product for a particular date. Unclear specifications or careless supplier specification,
3. Lack of detailed information of the customers that need the product and their specific demand
4. The purchasing and supply department of many business organizations lack clear rules and guidelines with regard to procurement and supply governance. It is in view of these problems that this research study is carried out.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the Study is to implement Supply management system for water Distribution Company a case study of Terry Water Company.

The following are the Objectives of the Study:

1. To develop an automated system for supply management to manage supply functions
2. To develop a system that will aid easy capture and retrieval of supply details.
3. To develop a system that will help in maximizing profit by determining priority of supply
4. To develop a system that will present reports of supplies when needed by management.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study covers the development of a Supply management system for water Distribution Company a case study of Terry water company, Ikot Ekpene.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant in the following ways:

1. It will aid the management of Terry Water Company to properly manage the records of supplies to be made on a daily basis.
2. The system will enable the water company to be able to determine who they have supplied to and those that are still pending.
3. It will provide an easy way of updating and verifying supply records of customers.
4. The system will serve as a management information system to the management of terry Water Company.
5. The study will serve as a useful reference material to other researchers and academicians seeking related information on supply management.

1.6 Organization of the Research

This research work is organized into five chapters.

Chapter one is concerned with the introduction of the research study and it presents the preliminaries, theoretical background, statement of the problem, aim and Objectives of the Study, significance of the Study, scope of the Study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

Chapter two focuses on the literature review, the contributions of other scholars on the subject matter is discussed.

Chapter three is concerned with the system analysis and design. It presents the description of the existing system, analysis of the proposed system and system design..

Chapter four presents the system implementation and documentation, the choice of programming language, analysis of modules, choice of programming language and system requirements for implementation.

Chapter five focuses on the summary, constraints of the Study, conclusion and recommendations are provided in this chapter based on the study carried out.

1.7 Limitations of the study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Demand: The amount of a good or service that consumers are willing to buy at a particular price.

Database Application: A software program for storing, retrieving and manipulating a database.

Supply: To provide, give, sell, or make available something that is wanted or needed by somebody or something.

Management: Administration of business, the organizing and controlling of the affairs of a business or a sector of a business.