Abstract: The fireworks industry is a traditional and distinctive industry in China, with a long history and rich cultural heritage. In the increasingly competitive market environment, coupled with stricter safety regulations, the material management of fireworks enterprises has continuously exposed various issues. IoT technology points the way to solving these problems. This article analyzes the advantages of IoT technology in the material management of fireworks enterprises and discusses the existing problems in material management, detailing specific application strategies of IoT technology for reference.
Keywords: IoT technology; fireworks enterprises; material management; storage safety; inventory management
Classification number: F426 Document identification code: B Article number: 2096-5699(2025)03-0152-3
In Chinese folk culture, fireworks are also a very important part. Although the fireworks industry has greatly promoted the development of the local economy, with the rapid development of technology and increasingly fierce market competition, fireworks enterprises are facing severe challenges in material management. The traditional material management method mainly relies on manual recording supplemented by experiential judgment, which has many drawbacks, leading to low production efficiency and greatly affecting economic benefits. IoT technology occupies an important position in the new generation of information technology, utilizing various information sensing devices and internet technologies (sensors, RFID technology, GPS, laser scanners, etc.) to intelligently identify items and manage their location, tracking, monitoring, and management [1]. Therefore, integrating IoT technology into the material management of fireworks enterprises can effectively eliminate the drawbacks of traditional management models, promote the refinement and intelligence of material management, and enhance the market competitiveness of fireworks enterprises.
1 Advantages of IoT Technology in Material Management of Fireworks Enterprises
1.1 Real-time Accurate Collection and Transmission of Material Information
IoT technology can achieve real-time collection of multiple information, including material location, quantity, and status, by installing various sensors and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on materials, and transmit this information to the management system via wireless networks. For example, by attaching RFID tags to the packaging bags of fireworks raw materials and placing readers in the warehouse and production workshop, the reader can automatically read the tag information and update material information in real-time, whether for material entry or exit, or movement within the warehouse, thus obtaining accurate and timely information.
1.2 Optimizing Inventory Management
With the help of IoT technology, fireworks enterprises can achieve real-time monitoring and intelligent early warning of inventory materials. By installing relevant devices (temperature and humidity sensors, smoke sensors, etc.) in the warehouse to monitor environmental parameters in real-time, if any parameter falls outside the safety range, the system will automatically alarm, allowing management personnel to take timely measures. Meanwhile, using IoT technology for automatic inventory counting helps management personnel accurately grasp inventory quantities in a timely manner, combined with data analysis and forecasting models, to precisely control inventory and prevent stockpiling or shortages.
1.3 Improving Material Allocation Efficiency
IoT technology enables successful information sharing and collaboration in the material management process [2]. Using IoT technology as a carrier, by building a unified material management platform, various departments (production, procurement, warehousing, and sales, etc.) can grasp material information in real-time, link production needs with order situations, and quickly allocate materials. For instance, after the sales department receives an order, the material management platform can automatically query inventory information, and if it finds insufficient stock, it can immediately submit a procurement request to the procurement department, efficiently and reasonably distributing materials based on the actual distribution of inventory.
1.4 Strengthening Safety Management
Safety management is crucial in the material management of fireworks enterprises. IoT technology can utilize video surveillance devices, gas sensing instruments, flame sensing instruments, etc., to monitor the safety conditions of warehouses and production workshops in real-time [3-4]. If any abnormal situation is detected, such as fire hazards or gas leaks, the relevant equipment will alarm immediately and inform the relevant personnel to take action. Additionally, IoT technology can also monitor materials in transit in real-time, ensuring the safety of materials during transportation.
2 Problems in Material Management of Fireworks Enterprises
Currently, the material management of fireworks enterprises involves a wide range, mainly including raw material procurement, inventory management, production usage, and finished product storage. The effective operation of each link largely determines product quality, production efficiency, and affects production safety. However, some fireworks enterprises still primarily rely on traditional management models, leading to low management efficiency and increased risk of errors.
2.1 Insufficient Raw Material Procurement and Lack of Systematic Management
Typically, fireworks enterprises need to choose procurement methods based on production plans, but due to the lack of scientific data support and correct forecasting analysis tools, it is difficult to accurately assess procurement needs, leading to issues such as over-purchasing and supply shortages. Additionally, information asymmetry is also quite common during the procurement process, with many procurement personnel relying heavily on manual experience or subjective judgment when evaluating and selecting suppliers, lacking systematic management and supervision mechanisms [5].
2.2 Non-standard Inventory Management Leading to Material Loss and Waste
The traditional inventory management model mainly relies on manual recording and periodic inventory checks, with both entry registration and exit issuance requiring human intervention, which increases the error rate. This model incurs high costs and fails to update data in a timely manner, making it difficult to present the actual inventory status promptly. Given that fireworks enterprises deal with many flammable and explosive hazardous materials, efficient inventory management is crucial. However, in practice, some fireworks enterprises have not implemented standardized inventory management, leading to significant material loss and waste. Moreover, due to the lack of real-time monitoring methods, some raw materials may deteriorate without timely detection and handling by management personnel, ultimately resulting in unnecessary losses. Additionally, fireworks enterprises have not adopted precise inventory control measures, leading to repeated purchases or excessive reserves, exacerbating resource waste.
2.3 Lack of Transparency in Material Information, Making Real-time Monitoring Difficult
Fireworks enterprises deal with a wide variety of materials, each with different storage requirements and usage periods. However, the information view provided by the existing management model is neither comprehensive nor transparent, preventing management personnel from grasping the specific situation of materials. For example, if the safety standards, current location, and estimated usage time of a batch of raw materials are unclear, it will severely affect the operational efficiency and emergency response capability of the enterprise.
2.4 Insufficient Supervision of Material Usage and Finished Product Storage, Affecting Product Quality and Safe Production
For fireworks enterprises, the lack of an effective information management system leads to human errors during material requisition, such as material mismatches and quantity discrepancies. These issues not only hinder production progress but also easily affect product quality. Furthermore, due to the lack of standardized operating procedures and technical support, employees may act arbitrarily when requisitioning materials. For instance, they may exceed the prescribed quantity or requisition the wrong type of material. Such situations disrupt the normal production rhythm and can easily lead to quality issues. In the finished product storage phase, on one hand, the warehouse layout is often unreasonable, with goods placed haphazardly, increasing the time cost of locating specific batches of products; on the other hand, the safety storage of finished products becomes prominent, especially for high-risk products like fireworks, where even slight negligence can lead to serious safety accidents. Additionally, the implementation of entry and exit management systems is not rigorous, lacking effective technical support, making it difficult for rescue personnel to quickly identify danger sources in the event of a fire or other emergencies, leading to delays in rescue and ultimately causing severe losses.
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3 Application Strategies of IoT Technology in Material Management of Fireworks Enterprises
3.1 Full Lifecycle Tracking and Monitoring of Materials
In the material management of fireworks enterprises, management departments should leverage the advantages of IoT technology to build a full lifecycle tracking and monitoring system to ensure efficient management goals. First, embed RFID tags on the surfaces of raw materials (such as gunpowder, paper tubes, fuses), semi-finished products, and finished products, connecting various devices including temperature and humidity sensors, gas concentration monitors, etc., to record multiple key data of materials in real-time, including production batch, entry time, storage environment (temperature, humidity), etc. At the same time, monitor the warehouse environment around the clock, providing early warnings for material damage or safety hazards caused by environmental anomalies. Second, install GPS/Beidou dual-mode positioning devices on transport vehicles and hazardous material storage containers (such as gunpowder warehouses) to track the transportation trajectory of materials in real-time, ensuring compliance with transportation routes and preventing deviations or delays. These positioning devices can quickly identify the specific location of materials in emergencies such as fires or thefts, providing precise data to support emergency responses. This measure can provide comprehensive and intelligent safety guarantees for optimizing material management in fireworks enterprises through the collaborative effects of data collection, environmental monitoring, and location tracking.
3.2 Intelligent Warehousing and Inventory Management
In the intelligent warehousing and inventory management of fireworks enterprises, management departments should deeply integrate automation technology and data analysis to ensure the accuracy of control. First, utilize automated equipment, such as AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), smart shelves, etc., to achieve fully automated operations from material entry, sorting to exit, effectively reducing the risk of human intervention and improving warehousing efficiency. At the same time, use inventory warning systems to monitor material quantities in real-time; if inventory falls below a safety threshold, it automatically triggers a restocking reminder, thereby avoiding production stoppage risks due to stock shortages from the source. Second, combine real-time data collected by IoT sensors with big data analysis technology to deeply explore material demand patterns, using forecasting models to accurately predict demand trends and formulate scientific procurement plans to prevent inventory backlog or shortages [6-7]. Additionally, dynamically compare historical data with real-time data to flexibly adjust inventory strategies. For example, during holidays or major events, ensure sufficient material reserves in advance to maintain the stability and responsiveness of the supply chain. Through the dual drive of automation and intelligence, efficient and precise solutions can be formulated.
3.3 Supply Chain Collaboration and Information Sharing
IoT technology empowers supply chain collaboration and information sharing in fireworks enterprises, optimizing the entire chain management through data interconnectivity and blockchain assurance mechanisms [8]. First, based on the IoT platform, establish a digital connection network among suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers, synchronizing core information (orders, inventory, transportation status, etc.) in real-time, breaking down communication barriers caused by “information silos” in traditional supply chains, effectively reducing manual docking costs and data error risks. For example, suppliers can use IoT technology to access manufacturers’ inventory data in real-time, dynamically adjust shipping rhythms, and accurately match production needs, avoiding material backlog issues or supply interruption risks. Second, relying on the distributed ledger and immutability of blockchain technology, record the entire process data from raw material procurement, processing production to quality inspection and warehousing on-chain, establishing traceable and verifiable digital supply chain archives, significantly enhancing transparency and credibility. In case of quality issues, on-chain data can quickly pinpoint the problematic link and clarify responsible parties, providing scientific evidence for resolving disputes.
3.4 Intelligent Decision Support
IoT technology supports intelligent decision-making for fireworks enterprises, leveraging data-driven predictive analysis and visual decision-making platforms to further enhance operational accuracy. First, by collecting a large amount of data, including production efficiency, inventory turnover rate, sales trends, etc., through IoT devices, machine learning algorithms can be used to build demand forecasting models, deeply exploring the correlation between sales data and market dynamics. For instance, combining historical sales data to estimate peak inventory demand during holidays and formulating production and reserve strategies in advance. At the same time, analyze consumer behavior, including holiday consumption preferences and regional cultural differences, to accurately guide customized production, such as adjusting inventory proportions for specific fireworks styles to efficiently match demand and supply. Second, using digital dashboards to visually display multiple key indicators in real-time, such as inventory levels, sales progress, safety warnings, etc., to formulate data-driven decisions. Management departments should dynamically connect sales and inventory data, timely formulating targeted strategies, such as offering limited-time discounts for hard-to-sell products and taking urgent restocking actions for popular products, to accelerate response speed and improve decision quality.
4 Conclusion
As the development speed of IoT technology continues to accelerate, its application in the material management of fireworks enterprises will become increasingly widespread and in-depth. Fireworks enterprises should actively explore the new application potential of IoT technology, further strengthen technological research and application innovation, and promote the intelligent and safe development of fireworks enterprises. Meanwhile, the government and relevant departments need to provide strong support in this process by implementing effective policies and providing sufficient funding to assist fireworks enterprises in successfully achieving transformation and upgrading.
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Author: Zou Xiaorong
Author Affiliation: Guizhou Railway Technician College
Source: Fireworks Technology and Market
Editor: Chen Guo
First Review: Zhang Guangzhong | Second Review: Li Xiaolu | Third Review: Peng Jianchang
Technical Support: Pingxiang Chenghui Youpin Network Co., Ltd.
