Objectives and Functions of Materials Management

The objectives and functions of materials management can be categorized in two ways as follows

Primary objectives

The primary objectives of Material management involve the following

• Efficient materials planning
• Buying or Purchasing
• Procuring and receiving
• Storing and inventory control
• Supply and distribution of materials
• Quality assurance
• Maintaining good supplier and customer relationship
• Improved departmental efficiency

Secondary objectives

Some of the secondary objectives of materials management are as follows

• Efficient production scheduling
• Take make or buy decisions
• Prepare specifications and standardization of materials
• Assist in product design and development
• Forecasting demand and quantity of materials requirements
• Quality control of materials purchased
• Material handling
• Use of value analysis and value engineering
• Developing skills of workers in materials management
• Smooth flow of materials in and out of the organization

It is necessary to establish harmony and good co-ordination between all the employees of material management department and should have good co-ordination with the other departments of the organization to serve all production centers.