Material management module for Malayala Manorama Company Limited; A. F. Ferguson and Company, Bangalore

Abstract

AF Ferguson & Co. (AFF) have been retained by Malayala Manorama (MM) to assist in the formulation of a computerisation strategy and a computer master plan for the organisation. This strategy would encompass the headquarters at Kottayam as well as all accompanying units and bureaux. The management of MM perceives the need to examine the adequacy of existing systems in meeting with the future plans of the company. The organisation thus wishes to evolve an IT strategy clearly specifying its needs in terms of hardware, operating systems, databases and application software which would take care of MM’s business needs for the next five years. MM is an organisation headquartered at Kottayam, with a projected turnover of Rs. 100 crores for the year 1994-95. MM publishes the daily with the largest circulation in the country today in addition to vernacular periodicals. MM has a network of over 4500 agents all over Kerala. It has 5 units at Kottayam, Cochin, Trivandrum, Palghat and Calicut. Two other units, at Cannanore and Quilon are planned. Newsprint purchase is centralised at Kottayam, with low stock levels at Trivandrum and Palghat.