Development of Decision Support System for Stock Control at Area Level in Mines

摘要

Stock control is a critical aspect of successful management. A study has been carried out for stock control in an area office consisting of underground and opencast coal mines with objectives of good service, efficient production at minimum inventory level. The existing system was studied and a modified system has been suggested for stock management at the sample coal mine. In the modified system, all the items have been classified according to the three classifications ABC, VED and FSN. Data of the last four years on lead-time, item rate, demand, ordering cost, inventory carrying cost and the present stock status of the items have been collected and processed. Depending on the item classification and forecasted demand, stock control parameters have been evaluated by appropriate stock control policy. A software package has been developed based on the studies. This software package incorporates all the stock control policy as stated above. The decision support system thus developed for inventory control is expected to assist colliery managers in decision making regarding inventory control. The software provides a user interactive interface and every form has the help option to assist the user. This software was found to reduce the inventory cost to about twenty five percent.