A professionally managed Stores has a process and a space within, to receive the incoming materials (Receiving Bay), keep them for as long as they are not required for use (Custody) and then to move them out of stores for use (Issue). In a manufacturing firm this process forms a cycle to maintain and run the activities of Stores. The basic responsibilities of stores are to act as custodian and controlling agent for parts, supplies, and materials, and to provide service to users of those goods. Typically and at times essentially, a Stores has to follow certain activities that are managed through use of various resources and are thus called Stores Management. The task of storekeeping relates to safe custody and preservation of the materials stocked, to their receipts, issue and accounting. The objective is to efficiently and economically provide the right materials at the time when it is required and in the condition in which it is required. The basic job of the Stores Manager hence is to receive the goods and act as a caretaker of the materials and issue them as and when Production demands it. Needless to say storekeeping activity does not add any value to the product. In fact it only adds to the cost. The organization has to spend money on space ie. expenditure on land, building and roads, equipment, machinery and other facilities provided such as electricity, people i.e. salaries and wages, insurance, maintenance costs, stationary, communication expenses and the cost to maintain the inventory etc. All of these get added to the organisational overheads and finally get reflected in the costing of the finished product. However, it is an essential function in any manufacturing or marketing organization. This basic reason has propelled the evolution of philisophies such as JIT, JIT II etc. Thus , the basic functions , to manage a stores, carried out are: Receiving of incoming consignments (goods) Safe keeping of goods (Custody) Disposal of undesirable goods Inventory Management House keeping and record maintenance It all starts with a suitable Lay out design of stores. Depending upon the nature of items used for  processing by the organisation the lay out and type of stores are selected. For example , a process that requires use of raw materials , not costly enough, an open and nearby stores with  truck / rail inside movement possibility can be adequate. Similarly, for storing costly material, a closed and restricted type of stores shall be needed. However, irrespective of the type and lay out , any Stores would have , as its starting activity , receiving and accounting of the incoming goods. This part of Stores is known as Receiving Bay.