INTRODUCTION
Manufacturing industries are those enterprises that are engaging in the production of certain products through the combination of factors of production such as material, labour and factory services land operation.
Inventory can be described as the totality of stocks of different. These includes basic raw material, partially finished goods and material (work-in-progress) sub assemblies, office and workshop supplies and finished goods. Without inventories, manufacturing industries cannot exist, for them to produce product, they need raw materials and in the process of production they will have stock of partially finished product called work-in-progress. All these form the totality of inventory of manufacturing concerns invest highly. Furthermore, manufacturing concerns invest highly in inventory and it constitutes about sixty percent (60%) and above of current assets held at any point in time depending on the size, level of operation and policies of such a particular concern. As a result of the huge amount always invested in inventory, proper planning and controlling here to put in place to avoid loss of inventory which will eventually affect the organization as a whole.
Profit maximization through the satisfaction of the consumer is one of the basic strategy, many business often make losses at the end of the period.
Taking the problem to it’s root, one would see that its linked with ineffective inventory control system.
The control of inventory has posed a serious problem for managers in manufacturing industries. This is because when inventory cost becomes very high without corresponding increase in production or sale, profit is bound to drop since the cost of holding the excess inventory will increase the company’s production cost heading to a reduction in profit.
However, control of production cost would be made difficult if there are no adequate reports to cover the reasons for the high cost of production (such as idle time absenteeism, increased material wastage, loss of materials and periodic physical stock taking)
Actually, the problem concerns how we can use inventory control to check production cost and see how it affects the performance of manufacturing industries. It is therefore necessary to find out areas where we can save cost and the incorporate in the plans for the future
Paramount in the heart of the owners of manufacturing concern with the survival of the enterprises, to fulfill thus desire, there has to be enough profit from the business that would be able to cover the company’s obligations to its owner and other parties such as government, creditors, investor e.t.c.
So as to increase performance (profitability), manufacturing concerns has to reduce the cost of production and this reduction can be achieved through an efficient and effective system of inventory control.
The main characteristics of manufacturing companies is that they
obtain raw materials and other components and then convert them into finished goods ready for sales. The problem arises as to how to account for the cost of these product and determination of the value or worth of raw materials coupled with work in progress. The study will help to appraise the role of costing system in manufacturing companies. In another plan, it is the beliefs of some people that inability of the enterprises to get manifested in the economy. In spite of immense contribution of the subject matter, there exist businesses enterprise that offer something worthwhile to the growth and development of the country at large and that there are a lot of mis-management, fraudulent practices going on in the organization which might deter the growth and development of such organizations. A perfect example of organization which runs at a risk of fraud and error in the manufacturing business or organization where the tendency for somebody to steal raw material and resources which is supposed to be used for production or store in a correct stock records, but use it for their personal use is so rampant.
ÂÂ
The fundamental aim of inventory control is for pricing and control of the cost of production. Other purposes are mainly informative and work towards cost control.
This study is design to achieve the following objective
ÂÂ
Inventory control is a managerial function that demands a combination of the use of financial information and intelligence; since inventory forms a very part of a manufacturing concerns working capital. It is a fundamental determinant of the profitability of the business upon which leans the survival of the business.
A good understanding of the system of inventory control with practical life situation will therefore broaden the scope of the managers on how to bring cost to the lowest possible level. This study will be immense important to the practicing manager in this respect.
To the management of Eastern Match industries limited it will help    reveal the various areas where there has not been effective inventory control.
It will also help to reveal the potentials within her disposal to raise profit. To the academics, it will help contribute to knowledge, shed more light on the use of inventory control in the general manufacturing cost control.
These are related questions asked in the context of the project. This definitely serves as a guide to the researcher on the topic under study. To proffer solution to my research topic under study, the following questions were asked.
ÂÂ
ÂÂ
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
These are testable statements formed to provide linkages between the world of theory and reality. The need to determine the reliability and validity of these statements in this project brought statistical hypothesis which are formulated in two forms.
The following hypothesis were put to test in this project
ÂÂ
This research attempt to look into the impact of inventory control on the performance of manufacturing industries in Nigeria with particular reference to Eastern Match industries limited as well as the business tycoon in the area of study.
The problem facing inventory control have been put into consideration and some likely solution have been suggested
This study covers a wide area but time is very limited to carryout investigation on variables that make up the study, financial constraint is not left out. The huge amount of money needed for study is not available enough.
Despite the limitation to the study, reliable and reasonable information was obtained from different sources to make this study valid and liable for its general acceptability and its applicability to other related areas.
The following terms related to the study are hereby defined and used as follow: