An Examination on the Management of Working Capital a Case Study of Nigeria Bag Manufacturing Company

Abstract on An Examination on the Management of Working Capital a Case Study of Nigeria Bag Manufacturing Company

This study examines the Management of Working Capital with special reference to Nigeria Bag Manufacturing Company.

This study employs survey research design. Analytically, the research adopted descriptive statistics to examine the impact of working capital in manufacturing organisations in Nigeria.

Data were basically sourced from primary method through means of a well structured questionnaire. Twenty Five (25) respondents were sampled from the population based on simple random sampling technique.

Four hypotheses were formulated and tested with the used of Chi-Square Statistical Technique. The analysis resulted into rejecting the four null hypotheses and concluding that; The working capital requirement of a business venture is dependent on the level of the business that has been established; Excessive working can increase production cost; The longer the working capitals cycle of an organization, the greater the investment in working capital; and there is no industry norm or minimum agreed level of investment in working capital.

The study proffered valuable recommendations as business organization should manager its working capital efficiently, in such a way as to avoid the ills of over capitalization and under capitalization.  

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter one

1.0     General background of the study

1.1     Background of the company, Nigeria bag manufacturing

         company (BAGCO).

1.1.1   Historical background

1.1.2   Nature of business activities

1.1.3   Organization structure

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Significance of the study

1.4        Objectives of the study

1.5        Statement of research questions

1.6        Research hypotheses

1.7        Scope and Limitation of the study

1.8        Definitions of technical terms          

1.9        Research methodology   

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Literature review

2.1     Management of inventories

2.2     Management of cash

2.2.1 Cash planning

2.2.2 Managing the back flows

2.2.3 Optimal cash level

2.2.4 Investing surplus cash

2.2.5 Cash operating circle

2.3 Management of receivable

2.4 Management of current liabilities

2.5 Benefit of management of working capital

2.6 Working capital ratio

2.7 Working capital circle

2.8 Overtrading and working capital

2.9 Under trading and working capital

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Research methodology

3.1 Restatement of research hypotheses

3.2 Population of study

3.3 Sampling design and procedure

3.4 Source of data

3.4.1 Primary sources of data

3.4.2 Secondary sources of data

3.5 Data collection instrument and administration

3.5.1 Questionnaire

3.6 Procedure for data analysis

3.6.1 Chi-square (X2) analysis

3.6.2 Percentage analysis

3.6.3 Level of significance

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Data presentation, analysis and interpretation

4.1 Test of hypothesis

4.2 Conclusion

Chapter Five: Summary of Finding, Recommendation and Conclusion

5.0 Summary of findings

5.1 Recommendations

5.2 Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix

Questionnaire  

Chapter One of An Examination on the Management of Working Capital a Case Study of Nigeria Bag Manufacturing Company

INTRODUCTION

 GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The enactment of the Nigeria Enterprise, promotion Decree of 1972, otherwise known as Indigenization Decree, made many businesses which were higher in the hands of foreign business men to pass into the hands of Nigerians. Perhaps by more co-incidences the economy became over liquid. The result at the excess liquidity was inflation.

To succeed in this new challenge passed by the said Indigenization Decree, Nigerian entrepreneurs and business concerns need at least a fair comprehension of essential aspects of financial management and more specifically, working capital management.

Generally, it is believed that the presumed objective at financial management especially in private organizations is the maximization of the value of the firm. Thus, wealth maximization of the present value of the future streams of cash inflows of the shareholders which are a derivative at the profitability of a firm. (Brokington, 1983).

Although profitability may be considered the objectives at a business, nevertheless, the mismanagement of work capital can effectively bring to a half, or to its ultimate downfall, what might otherwise be a successful and profitable organization.

Olowe (1997) views working capital as “the capital available for running the day to day operation of and organization. It is defmed as current Assets less Current liabilities”.

Current Assets are the circulating assets of the business; these are the assets that are not permanent in nature. They include: Cash at hand and bank; Short-term investments such as treasury bills; Stock of raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods; Debtors, Accrued income etc. Current liabilities on the other hand are debts of the business that have to be settled within the following twelve months. They include; Creditors; Current taxation, Bank overdraft etc. A current liability for a sizeable part of the business sources at finance and it is the cheapest form at business finance (Olowe, 1997).

Pandey (1986) views working capital form two perspectives. These are gross working capital and net working capital. Gross working capital means “firms investment in current assets. Net working capital on the other hand is “current asset less current liabilities”.

The importance of gross working capital is indicated by optimum investment in current assets. Here, the investment neither is in excess; resulting into tying down the capital of the business, nor investment inadequate; which will make the business insolvent. On the other hand, net working capital implies, that the current liabilities.

In view of the forgoing, working capital management is that managerial effort or approach which seeks to ensure that correct amount of investment are made by firms in working capital, adequate enough to cope with the business level being operated by that firms.

Working capital management therefore reverses to the management at all aspect of current assets and current liabilities. Hence, the managing working capital, it is essential to known the amount to be invested in current assets and the appropriate sources from which the finance will come.

Evidently, two extremes are easily notice at regards investment in working capital by firms, that is

• Having excessive working capital and;
• Having in adequate working capital

However, the objective of a finance manager as regards the management of working capital is the strike a balance: between these two extremes because excessive working capital is expensive and inadequate working capital very dangerous. These extremes can be likened to liquidity and profitability on which compromise is being achieved with managerial effort on working capital (Brokington, 1983).

 BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANY NIGERIA BAG MANUFACTURING COMP ANY-(BAGCO)

Historical Background

The company, Nigeria Bag manufacturing Company Limited

(Bagco) was incorporated in 1964 as a wholly owned subsidiary of flour mills of Nigeria plc. Almost immediate bagco’s pioneering spirit was established in 1972 new polypropylene bag manufacturing equipment was installed in the premises at Eric Moore Road, Surulere Lagos. As the first company in Nigeria to embrace this new technology Bagco enjoyed rapid expansion such that by 1978 the complete production range had been transferred to the new polypropylene technology.

Over the next decade bagco grew steadily as the production base was increased to meet the increasing demands of the market in terms of volume and product range. The next step for Bagco was to incorporated Northern Bag manufacturing Company Limited (Bagco North) in 1990 thereby enabling Bagco to become a truly pan Nigeria manufacturer. Bagco North commenced operations at sharada phrase 3, Kano in 1991. The 1990 saw both Bagco and Bagco North developed a product range of plain woven and laminated bags to meet the demands of Industrial, Agricultural and Domestic customers. Bagco Group had now truly become a house hold name with everybody knowing “Bagco Super Sack”.

 NATURE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

Nigerian Bagco Manufacturing Company (Bagco) and Northern Bag manufacturing company both operate state of the art production units for woven polypropylene packing.

The main business of the company is the manufacturing of woven polypropylene sack used by industrial market like, cement, detergent, salt, fertilizer and flour with customize packaging solutions that meet their volume and quality requirement.

It is also used for agricultural markets, a wide variety of “super sack” and “kakaki” bags to pack grains, fruit and vegetables. And it is also used for packaging of nails and used as a shopping bag.

Bagco Group is one of largest supplier to Nigeria Independent customers of woven polypropylene bags. And Bagco Group is working hard to maintain this position as Nigeria premier quality supplier through development projects with customers that are focused on enhancing the supply chain of today and tomorrow.