Abstract

This study had as prime objective to assess ‘the role of internal control on the performance of microfinance institutions in the Centre region Yaoundé’. The study specifically examines the role of control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and monitoring in the performance of microfinance institutions.

The research was conducted using a quantitative approach, using survey, regression analysis and descriptive survey as research designs. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to personnel of microfinance institutions in Yaoundé. Data was analyzed using the descriptive and inferential tools where conclusions were drawn from tables and figures.

The sample population of this study was made up of 40 personnel of microfinance institution in Yaoundé and the sample population was selected using a convenience random sample technique. It was found that; out of control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and monitoring, only the control environment had a significant effect on the performance of microfinance institutions in Yaoundé.

The following recommendations were made from the study: adequate organizational controls remolded and strengthened, adequate training of workers in the accounting section, clear organizational targets and budgets.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

In general, inventory control and cost control techniques have become a household name in the business of manufacturing firms, that boast of the possession of goods or stocks, that hope to sell when the demand arises.

It is so important to them, such that their survival as a corporate entity, hinges on how they are able to coordinate and control their applications. Inventory is a term that has been explained in various ways by various scholars, inventories are stocks of the product a company is manufacturing for sale and components that makes up the product.

They are raw-materials, work in progress and finished goods and they constitute various form of inventory in a manufacturing firm. Inventories are the stocks of material or finished goods which a company keeps in anticipation of demand or consumption.

In the past, inventory management was not seen to be necessary. In fact excess inventories were considered as indication of wealth. Management by then considered overstocking beneficial. But today firms have started to embrace effective inventory control. The goal of effective inventory control is to be sure that optimum levels of inventories are available that there are minimal stock

outs, (i.e running out of stock), and that inventory is maintained in a safe place and is always readily accessible to the proper personnel.

Consequently, there is a need for the firms to undertake effective inventory control with the aims of:

1. a) Ensuring a continuous supply of materials to facilitate
2. b) Maintaining sufficient stock of raw materials in periods of short supply and anticipated price changes
3. c) Minimizing the carrying cost and time virtually every company has one form of inventory or the other. The level of the forms of inventories of a firm depends on the nature of its business manufacturing.

The scope of inventory management concerns the fine lines between the replenishment lead time, carrying cost of inventory asset management, inventory forecasting, inventory valuation, inventory visibility, future inventory price forecasting, physical inventory, available physical space for inventory, quality management replenishment, returns and defective goods and demand forecasting. Balancing these competing requirements leads to optimal inventory levels, which is an on-going process as the business need shift and react to the wider environment.

Inventory management involves the monitoring of material moved into and out of stock room locations and the reconciling of inventory balance. Management

of inventories with the primary objective of determining/controlling stock levels within the physical distribution function to balance the need for product availability against the need for minimizing stock holding and handling cost. Policies relate to what levels of inventories are to be maintained and which vendors will be supplying the inventory. How and when inventories will be replenished, how inventory records are creating, managed and analyzed and what aspect of inventory management will be out sourced are also importance component of proper inventory management.

On the other hand, cost control refers to steps taken by management to assure that all segments of the organization function in a manner consistent with its policies. For effective cost control, most organization use standard cost system, in which the actual cost are compared against standard cost for performance evaluation and deviations are investigated from remedial actions. Cost control is also concerned with feedback that might change any of all the future plans, the production method, or both.

From the foregoing, it can be categorically asserted that how strategic a firm manages its stocks or inventories will defines its cost control techniques and budgets. It is therefore, the focus of this research study to carry out and assessment of inventory control as an effective tool for cost control in an organization, using the inventory and cost control techniques of Cameroon opportunities industrialization center as our case study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In the last couple of decades, the numbers of products offered to the market have generally exploded. As the same time, the product life time has decreased drastically. The combination of the two trends leads to increase in accuracy of the demand forecasts, leading to organisations facing an increase in demand uncertainty resulting in the increase in inventory levels.

It is important that a company maintains adequate stocks of material for the continuous supply to the factory for an uninterrupted production, in doing so such a company is exposed to two undesirable points namely excessive carry cost and the risk liquidity, while inadequate inventory can lead to production hold-ups and failure to meet delivery commitments. The study is concerned with problem of how to determine and maintain optimum level of inventory investment.

It cannot be over-emphasized that inventory keeping is an indispensable activity in the activity of every organization that deals in stocks. This is because these stocks, depending on how they are warehoused or better still managed, can make or mar them. It is not only just to keep record of these inventories; there is also the need for management to maintain the cost objectives put forward in the planning stage of inventory management.

Evidence has also shown that a lot of nonprofit making organisations have failed management control and thus, they have been made to count their deficits. How then can the firms maintain adequate or proper inventory control alongside with cost control? The answer to this question and many issues from the basis for the appraisal is this research study.

1.3 Research Objectives

1. To know how effective inventory control is when it comes to controlling cost in an organization.
2. To outline the relationship that exists between inventory control and the cost control system of an organization.
3. To know how effective inventory control technique.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How effective is inventory control when it has to do with an organization cost control practices?
2. What are the essential relationship existing between inventory control and cost control?
3. How can planned effective inventory control techniques contribute to the profitability in a firm?

1.4 Research Hypothesis

H0: Inventory control management is not an effective tool for cost control in an organization.

H1: inventory control management is an effective tool for cost control in an organization.

H0: There is no relationship existing between cost control and inventory control.

H1: There is relationship existing between cost control and inventory control.

H0: A well-planned and effective inventory control technique does not contribute to surplus in a firm.

H1: A well-planned and effective inventory control technique contributes to surplus in a firm.