Introduction

The storing of materials is not a subject that most people give a moment’s thought to. A store does not seem to be an interesting place – it’s just a location for holding things we want to use later. But for many, perhaps most, organizations, a store is a critical function: badly run, it can bring a company to its knees. The equation is simple: if you try to store too much, you will tie up money in materials unnecessarily, and clog up the stores area; if you try to store too little, the organization’s work will be held up waiting for supplies.