CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
An Automated petroleum meter reading system has tremendously transformed the way people look at life and business, from manual business, networking, to e-commerce, it has altered the way business is steered globally; among the many other things, standing in queues to pay bills or to be attend to which is the toughest, especially where customers are much like in manufacturing and distribution company, being present before an order will be made. Formally this was done by manual means of carrying paper from one office to another for proper documentation before petroleum meter readings will be made, which waste much time by allowing customers to be in queue. This also makes the distribution of petroleum to be so tedious (Feyide, 2018).
The introduction of computer in an automated petroleum meter reading will enable the Petroleum Company to know where, whom and when to distribute its product, as it will always be stipulates in ordering form. Computer is hereby seen as a way of handling, by automatically, systematically organizing, and recording, following up with the appropriate action or the like. Automated petroleum meter reading system is a computerized control system for a process, in which autonomous controllers are distributed throughout the system, but there is central operator supervisory control. This is in contrast to manual means of meter reading of petroleum. It enables monitoring and supervisory control of the process remotely. Today the functionality of automated petroleum meter reading system tends to be used on large continuous process where high reliability and security is important.
Distributed control systems first emerged in large, high value, safety critical process industries, and were attractive because the automated distribution and sales would supply both the local control level and central supervisory equipment as an integrated package, thus reducing design integration risk. Large continuous process where high reliability and security is important. Automation is the replacement of human workers by technology. Its robust in functionalities is needed for managing logistics facilities, storage, recording and tracking of materials on basis of both quantity and value.
Petroleum meter reading system are designed to effectively measure and manage the use of fuel within the transportation and construction industries. They are typically used for fleets of vehicles, including railway vehicles and aircraft, as well as any vehicle that requires fuel to operate. They employ various methods and technologies to monitor and track fuel inventories, fuel purchases and fuel dispensed. This information can be then stored in computerized systems and reports generated with data to inform management practices. Online fuel management is provided through the use of web portals to provide detailed fueling data, usually the back end of an automated fuel management system. This enables consumption control, cost analysis and tax accounting for fuel purchases. All over the world, companies, offices and organizations keeps records or data of their daily activities. These records cover all areas of human endeavor such as schools, medicals, and business and so on (Feyide, 2018).
For Administrative and future users, keeping track of these data as they accumulate often becomes a tedious, monotonous and time consuming task. The computation of this operations makes it more effective and efficient. We are in computer and information age is no longer news, what is important now is developing program that would make judicious use of computer enormous potentials in alleviating our colossal workload. Technically, a leak is porosity in an enclosure “capable of passing a fluid from a higher pressure side to a lower pressure side”.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
Pipeline products marketing are among the major source of growth and income to the nation. There is therefore needs for the proper tracking of the oil pipes that are processed under a given quality specification and procedures.
- Information management system is very cumbersome and elaborate when the processing is done manually and these create an avenue to produce an unreliable output.
- Retrieving of data when needed becomes a major circumstance in manual method of storage.
- Miscalculation of figures as a result of unreliable figures either by increasing or decreasing the result in paper work especially when petroleum reading are much.
- There are poor security and loss of information in paper storage due to movements of files from place to place.
1.3 Aim and Objective of the Study
The main aim of this project is to design and implement an automatic meter reading and sales of petroleum system for Adasiobi Oil Limited.
The specific objectives to achieve the aim are as follows:
- To enhance method of record keeping which is less stressful and easy to replicate.
- Reliable outputs will be produce since, accuracy and reliability is one of the computer characteristics.
- Retrieving of data when needed becomes easy.
- To ensure data security by restricting access to the program and to the database.
- To quickly compute whether the company is making any profit or loss.
- To ensure easy flow of information between the company and their customers.
1.4 Significance of the Study
Production and sales of oil products are the major source of income to a nation, especially to Nigeria. It enhances economic growth and development. Environmental pollution caused by oil spillage has negative impacts it imposed on human livings within the scene.
Like any other application development, the significance of this project are:
- To make petroleum meter reading much easier to the owner.
- To enhanced effective security in petroleum meter reading system.
- The software is intended to stop the manual means of operation (i.e. the use of pen and paper) and will be automatic with the use of computer.
- It help the investors to make good decision.
- This acceptance will be reliable, dependable and accurate in the (P.P.M.C) and all area of business.
- Furthermore, so scholars who may also have the needs to embark on similar problem, to serve as a guide or to give them the advantage or merit of learning.
- Scope of Study
This project work or study is aimed at designing and implementation of petroleum meter reading software for Pipeline and product marketing company (P.P.M.C).
Furthermore, it is also aimed at saving the management of Pipeline and product marketing company the difficulties in running their business manually.
1.6 Limitations of Study
In the course of carrying out this research work a number of problems were encountered.
- Lack of adequate fund to finance the project: this was another limitation to this work because much money is needed to carry out a detailed research work which is not easily borne by every student.
- Power Routine: The source and authority of Electric power supply Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is another limitation of this project. Some typed work was lost due to the power interruption and had to be retyped.
- Time Constraints: Looking at the interval between the resumption of the final semester, the time given is too short for collection of required information and a more comprehensive fact finding for a better work would have been done if given enough time.
- The limited knowledge of Visual Basic programming was great challenge to this project. However, more research was made to complete this project successfully.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Analyst: This is a person or professional who studies the problem encountered by a system and creates means of solving them by introducing a better system.
Automation: is the technology by which a process or procedure is performed without human assistance.
Code: It is a written guideline that helps to determine whether a specific action is ethical or unethical.
Computer: Computer is an electronic device operating the control of instructions stored in its memory that can accept data (input) manipulate the data according to a specified rules (processing) produces result output and stores the result for future use.
Consumer: consumer is a person or organization that use economic services or commodities.
Data processing: is defined as the entire process of converting or manipulating data into definite meaningful information.
Data: It is the facts collected for decision making they are facts that are kept to be processed to get more information.
Database Management System (DBMS): it is software which controls the flow of data and checks and checks on how data are stored.
Database: is an organized /unique collection of related files. It is a collection of schemas, tables, queries, reports, views and other object.
Design: is the art or process of designing how something will look, work.
Distribution Centre: distribution center for a set of products is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products (goods) to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers.
Distribution Channel: This is a set of firms and individuals that take titles in transferring titles to a particular goods as it moves from the point of production to the points of consumption.
Distribution Strategy: The overall approach to distributing products or services depends on a number of factors including the type of product, especially perishability; the market served; the geographic scope of operations and the firm’s overall mission and vision.
Distribution: Distribution is fundamentally concerned with ensuring that products reach target customers in the most direct and cost efficient manner. In the case of services, distribution is principally concerned with access.
Information: is a processed data that can be read and understand.
Inventory: this is the quantity of goods and materials on hand that a manufacturer uses to represent those items that are ready and available for sale.
Meter Reading: is the act of collecting datum from a meter or an equivalent device that represents the data about the physical changes.
Petroleum: is a naturally occurring, yellow-to-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth’s surface.
Pipeline: Pipeline transport is the long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas through a system of pipes—a pipeline—typically to a market area for consumption.
Product: a product is a system made available for consumer use; it is anything that can be offered to a market to satisfy the desire or need of a customer.
Security: This helps to prevent unauthorized users from illegally accessing certain data within the database, it protects your data/ files.
Software: These are set of logically related instructions given to the computer to perform some specific task.
System: Is the collection of hardware and software, data information procedure and people.
Transportation: is the movement of humans, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles and operations. Transport is important because it enables trade between people, which is essential for the development of civilizations.
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