Information systems and inventory control: what you don't know might hurt you!

Computerized information systems use in material management is expected to increase over the next decade. The goal of computerization is to improve information and productivity. However, without a through understanding of materiel management inventory control techniques implemented through the software, meeting this goal is questionable at best. Using computerized information systems inefficiently by ignoring a significant number of the system's recommendations, using inaccurate data, circumventing procedures or using the wrong set of inventory control techniques can create a poor environment for decision-making. Material managers need to understand each inventory control technique available through their computerized system, their associated underlying assumptions and the implications of each on the quality and usefulness of information generated.