Relevance of Materials Handling

1.0 Introduction

1.1 General Overview

The flow of materials and finished goods is seen as a business on its own right away, concerned with minimizing the overall cost of supply but maximizing the market advantages.

The movement of materials parts and finished products through the productive chain comes increasingly under a total material management philosophy, simultaneously, there are major change. Most organization maintain some handling equipment varying in size and computerized integrated handling system.

Handling materials which is one of the main activities in store house and stockyard is a costly operation and therefore the method and equipment should be efficient. It is critical that the most efficient and the most cost effective system is chosen at the beginning which will be flexible enough to allow for operation.

Materials handling is of major importance not only in the store house but also throughout the production process.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

On the course of investigation, the researcher discovered the following problem of effective materials handling in a manufacturing industries (Consolidated Breweries Awomma)

Some of the problems include;

1. Non impact of the profitability of the company:  Material handling has not been taken too serious in the company and therefore are not seen to make any impact in the profitability of the company.
2. No adequate or effective program in place for the material handling development: The company has no immediate program in place to develop and improve the material handling unit.
3. Poor Coordination between the various materials handling activities: There is lack of adequate coordination and perhaps integration between the various materials handling activities.
4. Unskilled Labour: Materials Handling Process are being carried out by people who are unskilled in handling materials.

1.3 Aim and Objectives Of The Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Relevance of Materials Handling. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the extent to which different materials handling method adopted in breweries industries has helped to improve the company’s aim.
2. To find out ways of improving co-ordination and more contributions to total materials handling cost by advocating for a materials handling management type in the organization.
3. To find out the method of reducing overall cost through efficient management of materials handling equipment.
4. To examine the caliber of staff involved in the various activities of materials handling.
5. To know and ascertain the contributions of materials handling methods and equipment employed to profitability and from efficient running of the system.

1.4 Significance Of The Study

It is the mind of the researcher that the findings and recommendation of this project work be useful to many interested persons. It is the significance of this study to make a viable and significant ratification as to clearly identify what relevance of materials handling matters in an organization.

The study will no doubt be useful to all purchasing students as it will be a vital academic material. This would enable them have a wide knowledge of material handling system in a manufacturing organization.

Also this study will enlighten the manufacturing industries the need for effective material handling system. The study is again undertaken in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the National Board of Techniical Education and Federal polytechnic Nekede for the Award of HND in Purchasing and Supply.

1.5 Research Questions

On the account of numerous problems faced by industries, but due to financial and time constraints, the researcher intended to use only the Consolidated Breweries Plc Awo-Omamma. Hence that is where the research is based.

This question are formulated for the purpose of this research work.

• Are there ways of finding method of materials handling in the company?
• Will effective material handling activities achieve results in the organization?
• Is low productivity in an organization cause ineffectiveness of materials handling?
• Are there adequate wide knowledge of materials handling system in the organizational growth?
• Which department is responsible for materials handling equipment in the company?

1.6 Statement Of Hypothesis

For the purpose of this project work, the following hypothesis will be tested as they are related to the survey work under consideration efficient.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Effective Material Handling Activities Will Not Achieve Results In Production.
• H1: Effective Material Handling Activities Will Achieve Positive Results In Production.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Low Productivity In An Organization Was Not As A Result Of Ineffectiveness Of Materials Handling.
• H1: Low Productivity In An Organization Was Not As A Result Of Ineffectiveness Of Materials Handling.

1.7 Scope Of The Study

The scope of the study is supposed to cover at least one third of the total number of notable manufacturing industries, but due to financial and time constraints, the researcher intends to use only the Consolidated Breweries Plc Awo-Omamma. Hence, that is where the research is based.

1.8 Limitations Of The Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

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 research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment 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.

3. Financial Constraint:

   Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

4. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents:

   A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.9 Operational Definition Of Terms

Materials Handling:

This embrace the movement of handling and storage of everything within and around the establishment including raw materials components and supporting goods regardless of shape, size, form, nature or weight .

Store:

According to Oyeokwu (1993), A store can be defined as any space reserved and equipped for holding materials which are awaiting dispatch to customers for further processing or final consumption.

Receipt Of Stock:

Is the process of accepting from all sources, all materials and including supplies for manufacturing or operating processes, plant maintenance and finished products.

Double Handling Of Materials:

Refers to the situation where materials are being handled more times than is necessary, mainly because of inefficiency within the whole supply management system.

Manual Handling:

This is the natural way of handling materials by hand. The human hand is capable of an almost indefinite variety of grips and posture.

Mechanical Handling:

This covers the use of mechanical aids in the movement storage and handling of materials.