<![CDATA[The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution sector in North Sulawesi faces inventory management challenges due to continued reliance on manual logistics recording systems, as found at UD Mitra Kencana Manado, which still depends on stock cards, notebooks, and written forms despite its large operational scale. Preliminary observations indicated recording delays, discrepancies between recorded data and the physical condition of goods, and obstacles in communicating stock information between departments. This study aims to describe and deeply understand the actual condition of this manual logistics recording system based on the experience and perspective of the actors directly involved. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach conducted within the warehouse and administrative environment of the Manado Warehouse of UD Mitra Kencana. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observation (participant-as-observer) with four purposively selected key informants — the Head of Logistics, two Warehouse Heads, and the Logistics Admin — on August 3 and 15, 2026. Data analysis followed the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña (2014), comprising data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification, with validity examined through source and method triangulation. The findings show that recording completeness is deferred rather than failed; timeliness is marked by a dualism of tempo between administrative and operational speeds; data accuracy is reconstructed after recording through periodic stock-taking; ease of access remains personal rather than institutional; and procedural consistency is strong in format but weak in execution timing. The study concludes that a time gap exists between physical warehouse activities and inventory record updates, particularly under high workloads, representing a contextual finding not intended as a generalization.]]>
