Materials Management
- Management Sciences
- 800 level
- 2 credit units
- 178 pages
- 14 units
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and practices of materials management. It covers key areas such as purchasing, inventory control, warehousing, and transportation. Students will learn about forecasting techniques, supply chain management, and the importance of quality in materials management. The course also explores legal and ethical considerations, including the Public Procurement Act of 2007, and emphasizes the role of effective materials management in organizational success and profitability.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PSM831, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PSM831 · UNIT 2: THE NATURE OF PURCHASING
To fulfill all these objectives, it is necessary to establish harmony and good co-ordination among all the employees of materials management department. This department should have good co-ordination with the other departments of the organisation to serve all production centres.
What you should be able to do
- Define materials management and its relevance
- Explain purchasing processes and procedures
- Apply information technology in supply management
- Explain forecasting methods
- Discuss inventory management and models
- Discuss waste recovery and recycling
What it prepares you for
- Procurement Manager
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Materials Manager
- Logistics Coordinator
- Warehouse Manager
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Government
- Healthcare
- Construction
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1:
Unit 4: Supplies Management Information System
Understanding the complexities of information flow and data management within supply chains requires strong analytical skills.
- Module 2:
Unit 4: Basic Inventory Models
Applying EOQ and related models requires careful consideration of cost parameters and demand patterns.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 80 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: Basics of Materials Management · 5 hours
Define materials management and its objectives. Discuss types of materials (raw, WIP, finished). Analyze the organization structure of materials management.
Unit 2: Nature of Purchasing · 4 hours
Define purchasing management. Explain the objectives and importance of purchasing. Discuss types of purchasing.
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 3: Purchasing Policy and Procedures · 5 hours
Define policy and explain its various types. Explain purchasing policy and procedure. Discuss methods of purchasing (centralized vs decentralized).
Unit 4: Supplies Management Information System · 4 hours
Explain Supplies Management Information System (SMIS). Identify major sub-systems in SMIS. Discuss applications of SMIS.
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 5: Supplier Quality Management · 5 hours
Explain Suppliers Quality Management. Describe the roles of buyers in managing suppliers' quality. Identify the dimensions of quality management.
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 1: Human Resource Management in Purchasing and Supply · 5 hours
Explain Human Resources Management Process. Identify different sources of recruitment. Explain the selection process.
Unit 2: Materials Forecasting · 4 hours
Define forecasting and types of forecasting. Explain the reasons for materials forecasting. Discuss the types of forecasting methods.
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 3: Supply Chain Inventory Management · 5 hours
Explain the concept of Inventory management. Explain the reasons for carrying inventory. Discuss the objectives of inventory management.
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 4: Basic Inventory Models · 5 hours
Discuss the various inventory management models. Solve inventory problems using EOQ. Solve problems of inventory using EOQ with Quantity Discount.
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 5: Transportation Management · 5 hours
Explain the concept of transportation management. Identify the two major functions of transport. Describe the fundamental principles guiding transport management.
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 1: Warehouse Management · 5 hours
Explain the meaning and objectives of warehousing. Explain centralised and decentralised warehousing. Explain the importance of warehousing.
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 2: Materials Handling Equipment and Computerisation · 5 hours
Define materials handling. Explain the objectives of materials handling. Discuss types of materials handling equipment.
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 3: Recovery, Recycling and Disposal of Scraps · 5 hours
Identify the basic concepts in recovering and recycling of materials. Identify and explain disposal procedures. Describe the basic disposal channels.
- Week 11Module 3:
Unit 4: Public Procurement Act of 2007 · 5 hours
Explain how National Council on Public Procurement is established. Discuss the operations of Bureau of Public Procurement. Explain the scope of application of Public Procurement Act.
- Week 12Module 3:
Unit 5: Disposal of Public Property/ Due Process Office · 5 hours
Explain the organisation of Public Procurement. Discuss Public Procurement Methods. Explain how Public Property can be disposed.
- Week 13Module 3:
Final Revision · 8 hours
Review all modules. Work on assignments. Prepare for final examination.
Preparing for the exam
- Create a detailed study schedule allocating time for each module
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their solutions
- Focus on understanding the key concepts and formulas related to inventory management (EOQ)
- Practice applying the Public Procurement Act to different scenarios
- Create concept maps linking different materials management functions (purchasing, warehousing, transportation)
Questions students ask about this course
What is PSM831 about?
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and practices of materials management. It covers key areas such as purchasing, inventory control, warehousing, and transportation. Students will learn about forecasting techniques, supply chain management, and the importance of quality in materials management. The course also explores legal and ethical considerations, including the Public Procurement Act of 2007, and emphasizes the role of effective materials management in organizational success and profitability.
How many units does PSM831 have?
PSM831, Materials Management, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 178 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PSM831?
PSM831 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.
Is PSM831 hard?
PSM831 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PSM831 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is PSM831 assessed?
PSM831 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with PSM831?
Procurement Manager, Supply Chain Analyst, Materials Manager, Logistics Coordinator and Warehouse Manager.