THE EFFECT OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT ON THE PROFITABILITY OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Inventory management is a critical management issue for most s large companies, medium-sized companies, and small companies. Effective inventory flow management in supply chains is one of the key factors for success. The challenge in managing inventory is to balance the supply of inventory with demand. A company would ideally want to have enough inventories to satisfy the demands of its customers- no lost sales due to inventory stock-outs. On the other hand, the company does not want to have too much inventory staying on hand because of the cost of carrying inventory. Enough but not too much is the ultimate objective (Coyle, Bardi, and Langley, 2003). role of inventory management is to ensure faster inventory turnover. It increases inventory turnover by ten (10) and reduces costs by 10% to 40%. The so-called inventory turnover is not yet right to sell products on the shelves based on the principle of FIFO cycle.

Inventory management is necessary at different locations within an organization or within multiple locations of a supply chain, to protect (the production) from running out of materials or goods. Adequate inventories kept in manufacturing companies will smooth the production process. The wholesalers and retailers can offer good customer services and gain good public image by holding sufficient inventories. The basic objective of inventory management is to achieve a balance between the low inventory and high return on investment (ROT). (Johson et al, 1974). Inventory levels have been seen as one of the most interesting areas for improvement in organization materials management (Kumar Ordamar, Zhang, 2008). Inventory plays a significant role in the growth and survival of an organization in the sense that ineffective and inefficient management of inventory will mean that the organization loses customers and sales will decline. Prudent management of inventory reduces depreciation, pilferage, and wastages while ensuring availability of the materials as at when required (Ogbadu, 2009). Inventory management is critical to an organization’s success in today’s competitive and dynamic market. This entails a reduction in the cost of holding stocks by maintaining just enough inventories, in the right place and the right time and cost to make the right amount of needed products. High levels of inventory held in stock affect adversely the procurement performance out of the capital being held which affects cash flow leading to reduced efficiency, effectiveness and distorted functionality (Koin, Cheruiyot, and Mwangangi, 2014).