Material management in construction is the process of procuring, allocating, and

disposing of construction materials. It’s more than just purchasing and delivering
materials. It involves a wide array of activities aimed at sourcing materials on time and
at a reasonable cost for every construction project. It’s safe to say that this process is
vital as it ensures meeting project goals.

Objectives Of Material Management In Construction

The objectives of material management in construction are to optimise the procurement,

storage, and utilisation of materials to reduce waste and costs, and to ensure timely
availability of the right quality and quantity of materials to prevent delays and enhance
overall project efficiency.

Here are few strategic approach for effective Material management in construction:

Resource Optimisation

Optimising the usage of construction resources and ensuring that every raw material is
efficiently utilised throughout the project lifestyle is the top priority of every construction
business. This optimisation minimises waste and maximises the value derived from
available resources and raw materials.

Timely Availability

The primary objective of any construction project manager is to make sure that the
construction raw materials are in adequate quantity at all times. Timely availability of
construction materials prevents project delays, streamlines project schedules, and
enhances the overall project efficiency.

Cost Control

Every construction owner and project manager is looking to optimise the construction cost
without compromising on the quality. Therefore, controlling costs via efficient material
management is fundamental for every construction business. By effectively managing
materials, construction companies can prevent budget overruns, enhance profitability, and
maintain competitiveness in the market.

Quality Assurance

Material management encompasses maintaining strict quality standards for all materials
utilised in construction projects. Ensuring quality assurance guarantees the longevity,
safety, and reliability of the constructed infrastructure.
Key Aspects of Planning Construction Materials Management:

Inventory Management

Accurate and efficient inventory management is paramount. It involves tracking material

quantities, locations, and usage patterns to facilitate informed decision-making regarding
procurement, storage, and distribution.

Supplier Relationships

Cultivating robust relationships with suppliers is crucial for reliable and timely access to
materials. Strong supplier relationships can lead to preferential pricing, priority deliveries,
and access to high-quality materials.

Storage and Handling

Proper storage and handling procedures are essential to preserve the quality and integrity
of materials. Adequate storage facilities, climate control measures, and appropriate
handling techniques mitigate the risk of damage, spoilage, or deterioration.

Transportation Logistics

Planning transportation logistics optimises the movement of materials from suppliers to

construction sites. Efficient transportation routes, modes of transport selection, and
scheduling minimise transit times, reduce costs, and mitigate logistical challenges.

Challenges In Implementing Material Management

While the traditional methods of manual or pen-and-paper material management in

construction have served the industry for a long time, these practices are increasingly
being recognised as inefficient and error-prone, leading to several pain points for different
stakeholders.

For the construction owner, manual material management can lead to budget overruns and
missed deadlines due to the lack of real-time visibility into the inventory levels and the
status of material procurement and usage. Moreover, this lack of transparency can lead to
strained relationships with clients who demand accountability and progress updates.

Clients, on the other hand, are affected by the inability to accurately forecast project
completion times and costs due to inefficient material management. This uncertainty can
negatively impact their own planning and budgeting processes.
For site engineers/supervisors, manual material management often means additional
workload, as they have to constantly update inventory records, track material usage, and
coordinate with suppliers. Furthermore, the lack of a centralised system can lead to
miscommunication and errors, ultimately affecting the overall project execution.

The issues faced in traditional material management are:

Lack of Real-Time Visibility

Traditional methods do not provide real-time updates on inventory levels and material
usage, leading to inefficiencies and potential delays.

Budget Overruns

Manual tracking can lead to errors in procurement and usage, leading to budget overruns.

Inaccurate Forecasting

The inability to accurately forecast material needs can lead to project delays and increased
costs.

Increased Workload for Site Managers

Without a centralised system, site managers are left to manually update inventory records
and coordinate with suppliers.

Lack of Accountability

Without a clear and transparent tracking system, it’s hard to establish accountability for
material usage and procurement.

Strained Client Relationships

The lack of transparency and the potential for delays and cost overruns can strain
relationships with clients.

Best Practices For Construction Materials Management

1. Centralised Procurement

Centralising procurement processes streamlines purchasing activities, standardises

pricing, and ensures consistency in material quality across projects. Centralised
procurement facilitates bulk purchasing, volume discounts, and improved supplier
negotiations.

2. Technology Integration
Leveraging advanced technologies such as construction management software or
inventory management systems automates material tracking, enhances accuracy, and
improves overall operational efficiency.

3. Regular Auditing

Conducting periodic audits of material usage, inventory levels, and procurement

processes enables the identification of inefficiencies, discrepancies, and areas for
improvement. Regular audits enhance transparency, accountability, and process
optimisation.

4. Just-In-Time Delivery

Adopting a just-in-time delivery approach minimises on-site inventory levels, reduces

storage costs, and enhances project flexibility. Just-in-time delivery ensures that materials
are delivered precisely when needed, minimising the risk of excess inventory or stockouts.

Material Management Tips

1. Forecast Accurately

Invest in accurate forecasting methodologies based on historical data, project

requirements, and market trends to anticipate material needs effectively and prevent
shortages or excess inventory.

2. Continuous Training

Provide comprehensive training programs to personnel involved in material management to

enhance their skills, knowledge, and awareness of best practices, safety protocols, and
regulatory compliance requirements.

3. Embrace Sustainability

Embrace sustainable practices by prioritising the use of eco-friendly materials,

implementing recycling initiatives, and minimising waste generation throughout the
construction process. Sustainable material management reduces environmental impact
and enhances corporate social responsibility.

4. Effective Communication

Foster open communication channels between project stakeholders to facilitate

collaboration, information sharing, and problem-solving. Effective communication
minimises misunderstandings, delays, and disruptions in material management
processes.

5 Benefits of Material Management in Construction

While building any construction project, the efficient management of materials is very
important for its success. From commercial offices to residential buildings to city
infrastructure projects, effective material management not only streamlines operations but
also enhances overall project outcomes. Let’s delve into the pivotal benefits it offers:

1. Cost Savings

Efficient material management minimises wastage and reduces unnecessary

expenditures. By accurately forecasting material requirements and optimising
procurement processes, construction firms can reduce costs significantly.

2. Enhanced Productivity

Proper material management ensures that the right materials are available at the right time
and in the right quantities. This eliminates delays caused by shortages or incorrect
deliveries, thereby maximising workflow efficiency. Workers can focus on construction
tasks without disruptions, leading to improved productivity across the project timeline.

3. Time Efficiency

Time is of the essence in construction projects. Through meticulous material planning and
scheduling, project managers can expedite timelines and meet deadlines consistently.
Timely delivery of materials minimises downtime and prevents project bottlenecks,
allowing for smoother progress and timely project completion.

4. Quality Assurance

Using high-quality materials is important for constructing durable and strong structures.
Effective material management ensures that only approved materials are utilised, adhering
to industry standards and regulatory requirements. This not only upholds the integrity of
the construction but also enhances the reputation of the firm for delivering superior-quality
projects.

5. Client Satisfaction

Ultimately, successful material management results in client satisfaction. Delivering

projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards enhances client trust
and loyalty. Meeting or exceeding client expectations fosters positive relationships and
paves the way for repeat business and referrals.
Powerplay – Construction Material Management Apps and Software Systems

Efficient construction material management lies at the heart of successful project

execution, encompassing a spectrum of tasks from strategic planning to waste disposal.
Powerplay, our innovative construction material management software and app systems,
redefine how construction materials are procured, allocated, and managed throughout the
project lifecycle.

Powerplay offers a comprehensive suite of digital tools tailored to optimise every facet of
construction material management:

Planning and Acquisition

Powerplay simplifies the process of identifying materials that precisely match project
specifications, ensuring quality, suitability, and purpose alignment. Our platform facilitates
seamless ordering, guaranteeing that materials are procured in optimal quantities to meet
project demands.

Scheduling and Transportation

With Powerplay, companies can orchestrate seamless material logistics, ensuring timely
delivery to designated construction sites. By eliminating double handling and minimising
delays, Powerplay optimises the transportation process for maximum efficiency.

Quality Control

Powerplay empowers users to uphold stringent quality standards by providing real-time

monitoring of material quality, ensuring compliance with project requirements and industry
specifications.

Storage and Inventory Management

Our platform revolutionises inventory management, offering real-time insights into stock
levels and consumption patterns. By facilitating regular updates and adjustments,
Powerplay prevents resource shortages, thereby averting disruptions to construction
activities.

Waste Management

Powerplay enables effective waste tracking and disposal, ensuring adherence to

environmental regulations and promoting sustainable construction practices.

The implementation of Powerplay has demonstrated remarkable results, with notable

reductions in material wastage and significant improvements in project timelines. Our
platform not only facilitates material tracking and management but also plays an important
role in generating comprehensive daily material reports and invoices.

By aligning construction material management activities through Powerplay, companies

can upgrade to new levels of operational efficiency. Embracing the principles of the “Five
Rights” (Rs) – procuring the right materials, in the right quantities, at the right time,
delivered to the right place, and at the right price – Powerplay empowers organisations to
plan and execute material management strategies with unparalleled precision and
effectiveness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, material management techniques have evolved significantly over time to

meet the demands of the construction industry. However, our acceptance of these new
digital tools seems to be moving at a pace reminiscent of a snail racing against a hare. It’s
high time we embraced these technologies that could potentially revolutionise our
construction projects.

What is the

Definition of resources resources in

Construction at least indicate three

Main categories first is the labor the

Actual people okay and the way that we

Pay them if it’s salary or hourly salary

Means they are getting paid monthly and

It doesn’t matter how much time they

Walk and hourly it means that they get

Paid by the hour equipment is the

Equipment that is used for the

Construction process but is not

Permanently installed in the project for

Example the backhoe excavator the

Tractors everything that is used and

Doesn’t stay and the materials is the

Exact opposite it’s the materials that

We use and stay permanently in the

Project after completion if if the

Drywall’s the cement the concrete the

Asphalt

Whatever now let’s put these categories

On the top now resource allocation its

Assigning the required resource to each

Activity in amount and timing and

Resource leveling basically minimalizing

The variations resource used during the

Project so why is it even necessary this

Is necessary to improve efficiency and

Minimize the cost of the project let’s

Say we are doing a sewer job and we need

An excavator for a few activities

Remember we are not only excavating ok

We have the mobilization of the

Excavator the actual setup on-site the

Operating which we if you want to walk a

Full day we may need more than one

Operator sometimes we even need a

Spotter for the operation

The maintenance if we are walking in

Temperatures high temperature grease

Gasoline all of those and when we’re

Actually done with the job we need to

Demobilize it so a simple excavator that

We use for a day for a regular sole job

Costs a lot of money so if for example

We have two tasks that involve using an

Excavator

We can simply allocate them to be one

Next to the other and then I’m bringing

The excavator on Monday and using it

Monday Tuesday Wednesday instead of

Using it on Monday sending it back and

Then again mobilizing and Wednesday

Which will just cost us a lot of money

So that’s why a resource leveling is

Very important therefore we can try to

Use resource leveling it doesn’t always

Work because sometimes we have other

Limits that just bound us and we can’t

Use it but whenever we can use it it’s a

Great tool by postponing the start or

Finish of the activities which are not

Critical okay remember if I delay a

Critical activity I delay the entire

Project so if I find so if we can find

An activity which is not critical and

Delay it then we are not delaying the

Entire project example paving a new road

We have our tasks as before we need to

Do mobilization we need to mill we need

To pave let’s say we pave a hundred mill

S P 19 s PS for super pave that’s what

We usually use in Canada and then we

Pave another 50 mil SP 12.5 FC – which

Is the most common super pave used in

Canada especially for surface and once

The project is done we will de mobilize

Okay we have our IPA we have a duration

And the new thing is the number of

Labour’s that we have for each task so

In task a when we mobilize it will take

Us four days and we need for guys or

Girls to perform the task so the first

Thing we need to do we need to perform

The CPM calculation if you don’t know

How to do that please go to the video

Before there is an excellent example

Second

Thing we need is to draw the president’s

Diagram and the third thing is actually

A condition it’s saying allocate the

Resources and level them and level them

So we do not use more than 15 laborers a

Day okay and this could be a financial

Term or this could be a condition or

Sometimes the Union doesn’t let us use

More than the number of employees for

Each day so this is something that I

Could say is a valid condition that can

Happen or maybe it’s a small company and

We have only 15 laborers to assign to

That specific task okay but this is our

Condition for the question so let’s

Start I placed the conditions over here

I’ve placed child I’ve placed the table

Over here and let’s start I’m going to

Use a bit of a different format than

What we used before this will be the

Early start early finish the name of the

Activity the duration late start and

Late finish I just need more space here

That’s why I’m going to use a much

Smaller version for the node diagram but

You can use whatever is comfortable for

You so our starting point goes to goes

To tasks a and B we can mobilize and at

The same time we can bring milling cool

And start to mill the 150 mil while we

Mobilize and do the traffic control or

Whatever then we are going to activity C

And we start to pave they both connect

To D and we finish with E with the

Demobilization so this is what we would

Call an AO n diagram now go into the

Node diagram to perform the CPM

Calculation early start for activity a

Is 0 because it’s the first task a

Duration is 4 0 plus 4 is 4 now for B 0

Plus 7 is 7 C 4 plus 4 is 8 D 7 plus 5

Is 12 and E 12 plus 1 is 13 now don’t

Forget the endpoint the

Always need to do at the end of the

Project and if you are student that’s

What you need to do to not lose point on

Your exam and now let’s start going back

To go back we say that the early floats

Equal the late floats and late floats

- Duration equal the late start and we

Start to go back twelve minus five

Equals seven 12 minus four equals eight

Seven minus seven equals 0 and 7 minus 4

Equals three
Now that we got our table complete we

Can quickly see well is our critical

Path and we can see that our critical

Path goes from B to D to e as I said

Before the we could have more than one

Critical path now we finished task 1 now

Let’s make a bit more space for task 2

And everything is over here right now

And in task 2 what you need to do is to

Draw this table we have our activities

ABCDE we have our days and it’s just

Starting from the first day to the last

Day we know that the last day is 13 okay

And our first day is 1 because 0 is not

A day so don’t fall for that and now we

Are going to start placing the number of

Labor’s for each activity okay so for

Activity a we had for labor we had for

Labor’s for four days which means that

For first day second day third day and

Fourth day we need we need four Labor’s

For each day

Okay now activity B activity B also

Starts from the first day and goes on

For seven days from 0 till 7 and it

Needs only two labors so this is why we

Have the number two over here now

Activity C activity C as we can see it

Has eight Labor’s and it starts from the

Fifth day now this is another trap that

You should notice okay although you see

Here for going from the four to eight

Remember that activity a

Has a start to finish relation with

Activity C which means that once

Activity a is done activity C starts

Remember that unless stated otherwise we

Assume that all activities I’ll start to

Finish activities which means that

Activity C only starts once activity a

Finishes an activity a finishes after 4

Days which means that the first day that

Activity C will start will be on the

Fifth day they don’t start on the same

Day okay unless it’s like a complex

Project and we can actually do it by the

Hour

But in this question we try to keep it

Simple and we go by the day so by the

Day a goes from the first day to the

Fourth day and C goes from the fifth day

Till the 8th day ok same thing ok

Regarding activity D activity D starts

From the seventh day ok and again for

The same reason activity D will only

Start on the 8th day because activity B

Goes for the first seven days and then

In the 8th day activity D will start and

We have for activity D 8 labors and the

Duration is 5 days so 1 2 3 4 5 with 8

Labor’s and activity e has only one day

And for laborers so that’s pretty simple

And now what we do is very simple we

Take our columns and add each column to

The labor section and we can say that in

The first day we have 6 Labor’s from

Activity a and B second day 6 Labor’s

3rd day 6 Labor’s fourth days 6 Labor’s

And on the fifth day we have 10 Labor’s

6 day 10 labor 7 day 10 Labor’s and on

The 8th day we have 16 8 plus 8 16 and

If you remember we need to allocate the

Resources so we do not use more than 15

Labor’s a day so here we have a problem

Okay we need to allocate this resource

Means we I don’t need to move activity C

Activity D somewhere so we won’t have

More than 16 Labor’s okay but let’s

First finish the calculation so in the

Ninth day we have 8 Walker’s 10-day 8 8

8 & 4 now to solve this we need to think

What is critical which of these

Activities I can touch and which I can

Touch so if you remember we said that we

Have a to D to e or B to D to E which

Means that activity C is not critical

Okay so if I need to pick between these

Two I can pick activity C now now I need

To move this activity somewhere I can

Either move it back or I can I don’t

Move it forward but if I move it one

More I still have the same problem and

If I move it back it means that activity

C it means that activity C will have to

Start before it means that activity C

Will have to start doing the time that

Activity a and B start which is a

Problem because we said we have a start

To finish relationship so we need to

Allocate this resource forward and the

Only place that we can do it is here if

We allocate it over here we get 8 plus 4

Which we need to erase this number it

Will be 12 but first we can see that

Here we have only 8 Labour’s the

Condition is met and here we have twelve

Labour’s the condition is also met and

Now as you can see we allocated the

Resources and in any of the days we

Don’t have more than 15 Labor’s so we

Met the condition okay so we perform the

CPM calculation we drew the diagram and

Then we met the condition so as you can

See this is a great tool for supervisors

Or PMS or anybody that is even involved

In a small innovation and wants to make

Sure that there are no conflicts