is an important part of marketing management.

It consists of
two major tasks – Physical distribution and management of distribution
channels.
Physical distribution is the process that encompasses all the activities
involved in the
physical flow of products from producers to customers. Channels of
distribution are the
intermediaries that act in between the producers and consumers and are
called
middleman. In other words of Cundiff and Still, “Channel of distribution is a
path traced
in the direct or indirect, transfer of title to a product, as it moves from
producer to
ultimate consumers.” Thus, distribution plays a major role in achieving the
marketing
objectives of a company in any economy.
ACC has given significant importance to distribution in its marketing
policies.
ACC has a strong distribution network with nearly over 9000 dealers all
over India. The
purchase from ACC can be made both directly and indirectly. Directly, the
customer
which is generally the government, purchases the cement from the plants.
This is because
the purchase is made in bulk. Indirectly the purchase can be made through
different
channels. ACC has its own authorized cement dealers (ACDs), indirectly
purchase can be
made through them. These dealers are appointed on the basis of following
consideration –
business capacity and salesmanship; expertise and previous experience in
line; financial
capacity; credit worthiness; storage facilities and market potential.
ACC has its warehouse in different areas. Purchase can be made through
these
warehouses. These warehouses provide storage facilities and are engaged in
collection of
bills. All the clearing, forwarding, loading and unloading is done at these
warehouses.
They also serve as financial cushion for the company. The dealers,
wholesalers or
retailers etc. purchase cement from these warehouses.
- 41 -
“ACC”
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
- 42 -
ACHIEVEMENTS
Year Achievement
1936 The Associated Cement Companies Limited incorporated on August 1
1947 India's first entirely indigenous cement plant installed at Chaibasa.
1955
ACC Sindri uses waste material - calcium carbonate sludge -from
fertilizer factory at Sindri to make cement
1956 Bulk Cement Depot established at Okhla, Delhi
1961
Blast furnace slag, (a waste by-product from steel) from TISCO used
at ACC Chaibasa to manufacture Portland Slag Cement.
1961
Oilwell Cement manufactured at ACC Shahabad for cementation of
oilwells upto a depth of 6,000 feet.
1961 Manufacture of Hydrophobic (waterproof) cement at ACC Khalari.
1965
Manufacture of Portland Pozzolana Cement using naturally available
materials. An eco-friendly cement using an eco-friendly process.
1966
ACC inducts use of pollution control equipment and high efficiency
sophisticated electrostatic precipitators for its cement plants and
captive power plants decades before it becomes mandatory to do so.
1978
Introduction of the energy efficient pre-calcination technology for the
first time in India.
1982
Commissioning of the first 1 MTPA (million tonne per annum) plant in
the country at Wadi, Karnataka.
1984
ACC achieves a breakthrough in import substitution by developing and
supplying a special G type of oil well cement to ONGC.
1987
ACC develops a new binder, working at sub-zero temperature, which is
successfully used in the Indian expedition to Antarctica.
1992
Incorporation of Bulk Cement Corporation of India, a JV with the
Government of India.
1993 Commercial manufacture of ready-mixed concrete at Mumbai.
2001
Commissioning of the new Wadi plant of 2.6 MTPA capacity in
Karnataka, the largest in India, and among the