ABSTRACT The general purpose was to develop an efficient Inventory Management System (IMS) that improves service delivery at Smart shoppers’ Masaka. The main objectives were to collect and analyze user requirements that provide the researchers with enough information of what the system users want the system to accomplish, to design an Automated Inventory Management System, to implement a prototype and to test and validate the designed prototype. The methodology used includes Interviews, Questionnaires and observation to identify the requirements for the system. The system was designed, and the system was implemented using Ms Access 2010 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. Testing and validation was achieved by component, testing, bottom up integration testing, and system testing. The research findings from system design depicted fast information flow and relationship between entities. The researchers recommend that as the Company establishes branches all over the nation, the system be made web based such that all branches can use the system at the same time on the Web. The researchers also recommend that the system should be upgraded in order to report on products that have been hired out. The system can also be expanded to include information requirements for human resource management. This introduction to the research is dedicated to fully understanding the nature of the problem and coming up with a solution to it. It also explains the significance of the system to smart shoppers’. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION.............................................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL.................................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................................. iv

ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................... v

LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................... vi

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS................................................................................................................................ viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1

1.2 Background of the Study ....................................................................................................................1

1.3 Study Findings ......................................................................................................................................1

1.4 Existing System....................................................................................................................................2

1.5 Challenges of the Existing System ....................................................................................................3

1.6 Statement of the Problem...................................................................................................................3

1.7 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................................................4

1.8 Objectives of the Study.......................................................................................................................4

1.8.1 Main Objective...................................................................................................................................4

1.8.2 Specific Objectives............................................................................................................................4

1.9 Research Questions .............................................................................................................................5

1.10 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................6

2.1 COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW............................................................................................................6

2.2 Manual Inventory Management System ...........................................................................................7

2.3 Information Systems............................................................................................................................7

2.3.1 Components of Information Systems ............................................................................................8

2.4 Warehouse management System......................................................................................................8

2.3 Electronic Document and Records Management System ............................................................14

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2.4 Systems Development Methodologies ............................................................................................14

2.4.1 The Systems Development Life Cycle .........................................................................................15

2.4.2 Rapid Application Development (RAD)........................................................................................15

2.5 Related Systems.................................................................................................................................15

2.5.1 Challenges of the related systems...............................................................................................16

2.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................17

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................18

3.1 System Investigation.........................................................................................................................18

3.2 Population Study................................................................................................................................19

3.3 Data Gathering Techniques..............................................................................................................19

3.3.1 Interviews........................................................................................................................................19

3.3.2 Questionnaires ................................................................................................................................19

3.3.3 Observation .....................................................................................................................................19

3.4 System Analysis..................................................................................................................................20

3.5 System Design....................................................................................................................................20

3.6 System Testing...................................................................................................................................20

3.6.1 Component testing.........................................................................................................................20

3.6.2 Bottom-up integration test............................................................................................................21

Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................21

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ...............................................22

4.1 Determining the requirements of the system................................................................................22

4.2.1 User requirements..........................................................................................................................22

4.2.2 Functional requirements ................................................................................................................22

4.2.3 Nonfunctional requirements..........................................................................................................23

4.2.4 Software Requirements .................................................................................................................23

4.2.5 Hardware Requirements................................................................................................................23

4.4 System Modeling................................................................................................................................24

4.4.1 Context Diagram.............................................................................................................................24

4.4.2 Level 0 Data flow diagram ............................................................................................................25

4.4.3 Meaning of symbols .......................................................................................................................26

4.4.4 Description of processes................................................................................................................26

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4.4.5 Description of data stores .............................................................................................................27

4.6.1.3 Description of external entities .................................................................................................27

4.7 Database Design..............................................................................................................................28

4.7.1 Logical Design.................................................................................................................................28

4.7.2 Entity relationship diagram ...........................................................................................................31

4.8 System Implementation....................................................................................................................32

4.8.1 The Login form ...............................................................................................................................32

Figure 4.8.1 Login form...........................................................................................................................32

4.8.2 Switchboard.....................................................................................................................................32

Figure 4.8.2Main Menu ............................................................................................................................33

4.8.3 Registering customer.....................................................................................................................33

Figure 4.8.3 Customer Entry Form.........................................................................................................34

4.8.4 Registering Stock............................................................................................................................34

Figure 4.8.4: Stock Entry Form ..............................................................................................................35

4.8.5 Registering the Categories............................................................................................................35

Figure 4.8.5 Registering the Inventory .................................................................................................36

4.8.6 Registering Product........................................................................................................................36

Figure 4.8.6 Registering The Product....................................................................................................36

4.8.7 Taking orders from customers .....................................................................................................36

Figure 4.8.7Taking Orders From Customers ........................................................................................37

Figure 4.8.8 Sales Report........................................................................................................................37

4.9 System testing....................................................................................................................................37

4.9 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................38

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..............................................................40

5.1 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................................40

5.2 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................40

5.3 Recommendation...............................................................................................................................41

References .................................................................................................................................................... i

Ghant chart................................................................................................................................................. vi

Project budget............................................................................................................................................ vi