Àâòîð: Zhurbinova V.V., Yaroshenko, A.V., BoykoV.N.
Èñòî÷íèê: Èññëåäîâàíèÿ è äîñòèæåíèÿ ìîëîäûõ ó÷åíûõ â îáëàñòè íàóêè : Ñáîðíèê äîêëàäîâ íàó÷íî-òåõíè÷åñêîé êîíôåðåíöèè äëÿ ìîëîäûõ ó÷¸íûõ, Äîíåöê, 16 àïðåëÿ 2020 ãîäà / Îòâ. çà âûïóñê Å.Í. Êóøíèðåíêî. – Äîíåöê: Äîíåöêèé íàöèîíàëüíûé òåõíè÷åñêèé óíèâåðñèòåò, 2020. – 160 ñ. – EDN KACOAY.
The article discusses the importance management of material flows in the innovative activities of enterprises. The theoretical and practical aspects of this problem are analyzed, recommendations for optimizing the processes of material flow management are proposed, and the features of material flow management in the context of innovation are highlighted.
Ìanagement, material flows, innovations, innovative activity.
Material flows are the movement of material resources from suppliers to production and then to final consumers. They cover the entire life cycle of a product - from the purchase of raw materials to production, storage, transportation and sale of finished products.
Material flows are of great importance for enterprises, as they directly affect the efficiency of production, operating costs, product quality and competitiveness of the company. Material flow management helps to optimize raw material and finished goods inventories, minimize losses and costs, improve production planning and enhance customer service.
Effective material flow management helps companies reduce costs, improve product quality, shorten production time and improve logistics processes. All this helps to improve competitiveness and contributes business success.
Some methods of material flow management in innovation activities include:
1. Systems approach: using a systems approach to material flow management allows to evaluate the interrelationships and interactions of the various components of the innovation process to optimize the entire system.
2. Logistics: applying the principles of logistics to optimize the warehousing, transportation and distribution of materials and components reduces time and cost.
3. Application of modern technology: the use of modern information technology, such as inventory management systems, automates material flow management, improves forecasting accuracy, and improves production planning.
4. Supply chain management: effective management of the supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, helps ensure that the right materials are delivered on time and reduces the risk of production downtime.
5. Risk management: analyzing and managing risks in material flows helps prevent potential problems associated with late deliveries, material shortages, or substandard components.
It is important to know the approaches to material flow management, which can be applied in different industries and spheres of activity of companies. Let's consider the main ones in Table 1.
Figure 1 – Approaches to material flow management
The introduction of innovations can significantly affect material flows in the company or industry. Some of the possible impacts include:
1. Process optimization: Innovations can improve production processes and reduce material costs; thus, material costs can be reduced.
2. Improvement of product quality: New technologies and methods can improve product quality, which can reduce wastage and scrap materials.
3. Use of environmentally friendly materials: Innovations allow to use more environmentally friendly materials, which has a positive impact on the environment and reduces the negative impact on material resources.
4. New opportunities for recycling and disposal: Innovations can facilitate the development of new methods of material recycling and waste disposal, which can help optimize material flows and reduce the burden on the environment.
Thus, innovations can have a positive impact on material flows by optimizing resource utilization, reducing costs and increasing business sustainability.
Information Technology should be considered – it can automate and optimize inventory management, logistics and warehousing processes. Let's look at some of the ways in which information technology impacts material flow management:
1. inventory management: Warehouse management systems (WMS) and inventory management systems allow companies to effectively control inventory levels, optimize their procurement and distribution to minimize costs;
2. optimization of logistics process: Transportation management and routing systems allow to improve delivery planning, routing and tracking, that helps to reduce delivery times and logistics costs;
3. warehouse optimization: Warehouse management systems help to reduce goods handling time, increase order picking and packing accuracy, and improve security and control of warehouse operations;
4. information technology plays a key role in modern material flow management, helping companies to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer service.
Having considered the management and implementation, it can be noted that the Innovative approach to material flow management can bring a number of significant benefits to the company. These benefits are illustrated in the figure 1.
Figure 2–The benefits of an innovative approach to material flow management
Having a number of significant advantages, it is necessary to organize the optimization of material flows in innovation activities at the enterprise, as it is an important aspect of improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the organization. The following tools and methods can be used for this purpose:
1. Lean approach: Lean principles allow minimizing losses and excessive costs in production and supply processes.
2. Demand forecasting method: trend analysis and forecasting of market needs allow optimizing inventories and production processes.
3. Stock and inventory management: optimization of inventory levels in accordance with actual demand helps to avoid surpluses and shortages of material resources.
4. Application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and digitalization: monitoring and controlling of material flows with sensors and analytics allows to response to changes and optimization of processes quickly.
5. Methods for optimizing processes: applying Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and other approaches to identify and eliminate bottlenecks in manufacturing processes.
These tools and techniques will help the company to optimize material flows in innovation activities, improve production processes and increase business efficiency.
Management of material flows in the innovative activity of enterprises is a key factor in the successful implementation of new technologies and processes. It is necessary to consider the approximate scheme of material flows management in the innovation activity of the enterprise, in Figure 2.
These steps can be adapted to the specific needs and peculiarities of the enterprise. Managing material flows in innovation activities requires good coordination between different departments and resources of the company, as well as constant attention to changes in the market and technological trends.
Figure 3 – Example scheme of material flows management in the innovative activity of the enterprise
The development and use of such material flow management strategies will help the enterprise to achieve better results in terms of production, supply and customer service.
The development of methods and tools for material flow management is a key element in the effective functioning of logistics systems. Let us consider the methods and tools in Table 2.
Effective use of these methods and tools helps to improve productivity, reduce costs and improve customer service.
Figure 4 – Basic methods and tools
In the field of material flow management at enterprises, several conclusions and development prospects can be emphasized:
1. Automation and digitalization of material flow management processes. Implementation of modern technologies, such as warehouse management systems (WMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, helps to improve management efficiency and reduce costs.
2. Optimization of logistics chains. The development of international trade and the emergence of new markets requires continuous improvement of logistics processes to ensure fast and efficient delivery of materials.
3. Improving inventory management. Rational planning and inventory management helps to avoid surplus or shortage of materials, which is a key factor in maintaining the financial stability of the enterprise.
4. Developing environmentally sustainable practices. Considering the environmental impact of material flows and adopting green technologies can help reduce the negative environmental impact of a company's operations.
5. Continuous training and development of personnel. The human factor remains important in material flow management, so it is necessary to invest in training and development.
These findings and perspectives can help enterprises to improve their material flow management activities and achieve better results.
Analyzing the current state of material flow management at enterprises, we can conclude that the introduction of digital technologies and process automation plays a key role in optimizing logistics and improving the efficiency of the entire supply chain. The development of inventory management systems, the introduction of demand forecasting methods, as well as the use of modern analytics and monitoring tools help enterprises to reduce costs and improve service quality.
In the future, we should expect to see even wider adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies in material flow management. This will reduce manual operations, improve the accuracy of forecasting and inventory management, and automate decision- making processes. In addition, the development of digital logistics networks and improved collaboration between suppliers, manufacturers and consumers will help create even more flexible and responsive supply chains.