Main topics of study:

The Supply Function:

• Stores
• Responsibilities
• Organisation
• Position of Stores Within the Purchasing & Supply Organisation
• Relationships with Other Departments
• Materials Management
• Logistics
• The Supply Chain Concept
• The British Standard Guide to Stock Control

 Identification of Materials:

• Coding of Materials
• Advantages of a Coding System
• Code Symbols
• Interpretation of Codes
• Methods of Coding
• Self-Validating Codes
• Organising a Materials Vocabulary
• Specification
• Bar Coding
• Variety Reductions
• Some Widely Used Coding Systems

Receipt & Inspection:

• Expediting
• Receipts from Suppliers
• Transfers from Other Storehouses
• Returns from Production or Other Departments
• Scrap Arising
• Inspection
• Vendor Quality Rating
• Marshalling Receipts
• Receipt of Capital Items Within the Organisation

Issue & Dispatch: 

• Authorisation of Issues
• Identification of Requirements
• Timing of Issues
• Methods of Issuing Stores for Internal Use
• Dispatch of Goods Outside the Organisation

Records & Systems: 

• Purpose of Stock Records
• Manual Systems
• Computerised Systems
• Electronic Data Interchange
• Current Developments

Materials & Accounting 

• The Value of Stores in Stock
• Basis of Material Costing
• Methods of Pricing Material
• Arrangement of Stores Accounts
• Provisions
• Control of Stock by Value
• Budgetary Control
• Annual Audit

Approach to the Provision of Materials:

• Reasons for Holding Stock
• Dependent & Independent Demand
• Approaches Taken in Production Organisations
• Differing Stock Control Needs of Construction, Service & Retail Organisations
• The Extent of Stockholdings
• Ordering Quantities
• Range
• Consignment Stocktaking

Stock Control Techniques: 

• Provisioning
• Approaches to Control
• Visual Approaches to Control
• Programming Deliveries
• Ordering Quantities
• The Need for Differential Control
• ABC Analysis Classification of Stock According to Purpose
• Forecasting Demand
• The Use of Probability in Inventory Control
• The Setting of Recorder Levels
• The Provision of Safety Stock
• Simulation
• Physical Security
• Responsibility for Stock
• Purpose of Stocktaking
• Periodic Stocktaking
• Continuous Stocktaking
• Stocktaking Procedure
• Treatment of Discrepancies
• Obsolescence & Redundancy
• Stock Checking

Storehouses & Stockyards:

• New Stores Buildings
• Large Central Storehouses
• Storehouses Serving One Factory or Operating Unit
• Hiring of Storage Accommodation
• Stockyards
• Construction of Stockyards
• Stockyard Facilities
• Buildings & Enclosures Within the Stockyard

Stores Operations:

• Security
• Knowledge of Materials
• Prevention of Deterioration
• Storehouse Location Systems
• Flow
• Departmental Stores
• Work-In-Progress Stores
• Special Storage Facilities
• Centralisation of Storage Central Stores
• The Assessment of Stores Efficiency
• The Measurement of Stores Efficiency
• Redundant Stock

Health & Safety:

• European Directives on Health & Safety at Work
• Manual Lifting
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
• Mechanical Lifting
• Fire Precautions

Storage Equipment:

• Adjustable Steel Shelving
• Bins
• Pallets
• Racks
• Measuring Equipment
• Ladders & Steps
• Cleaning Equipment
• General Tools
• Live Storage
• Automation of Warehouse Work

Materials Handling:

• Benefits of Proper Materials Handling
• Manual Handling
• Mechanical Handling
• Assessment of Handling Problems for Mechanisation
• Hand-Operated Equipment
• Power-Driven Equipment
• The Relationship of Materials Handling to Transport

Procedures Manuals:

• The Need for Procedure Manuals
• Procedures
• Advantages & Disadvantages of a Manual
• Preparation of the Manual
• Contents of the Manual
• Publication & Distribution
• Implementation of the Manual
• Work Study

Reading List

Main Text:

Storage & Supply of Materials - D Jessop & A Morrison (Pitman)