Materials Management: The Other Side of PDM

Abstract

The classical definition of PDM focuses on the broad spectrum of distribution activity, from the inbound raw materials; to the finished product flow; and to the end user. The definition is often stated as “all of the activities involved in the flow of goods from the manufacturer to the consumer which include inventory control, transportation, warehousing, order processing, materials management, and purchasing”. But despite the broad view described in the definition, little attention is given to the raw materials flow and to the entire area of Materials Management. Physical Distribution managers tend to disregard the inbound flow and regard it as the responsibility of some other management group in the company, specifically purchasing and/or production. The need for a well co‐ordinated and efficient distribution system demands that the PD manager pay more attention to the inbound material flow. The outcome of the decisions that a PD manager makes depends to a great degree on how well materials management and PDM are co‐ordinated in a firm:

Citation

Lancioni, R.A. and Palmquist, J. (1977), "Materials Management: The Other Side of PDM", International Journal of Physical Distribution, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb014412