Materials Management In Construction

Construction is the process by which a structure is made or put in place with the purpose of facilitating further development activities by people. The main aim of each structure is to serve a definite purpose. Generally, the construction of a simple structure needs simple materials. But in some cases, it may require specialised goods or materials or goods already processed using manual labour or sophisticated machinery and equipment. 

The essential components which go to make a construction are materials, labour and fuel either to transport goods or to run machinery to assist construction activity. Without the materials, the labour cannot produce any work and therefore, to keep the labour engaged without loss of time or money, there should be a good and optimum flow of materials. 

Sometimes, these three components are called as resources, as they finally ensure a product. The flow of materials involves expenditure and therefore, all materials required for the complete work cannot be purchased right at the beginning. This would mean locking up the money for the materials not required until a long time later and spending away the money which might be utilised for other works. 

The materials which account for a high percentage of the cost are bricks, cement, steel, wood, doors and windows of steel and aluminum, fittings, flooring tiles, paints, sanitary and plumbing items, glass items and electrical cables and fittings. Many times, the contract is given to a contractor who has to do the materials management. In a few cases, the client chooses to do the material procurement himself. But the task of materials management is usually associated with large organisations who keep doing a lot of constructions at different locations and maintain a steady flow of materials from a centrally located store from where the individual works are supplied with materials. 

The art of phasing the purchase or acquisition of materials in the right quantities at the right moment or in other words, the skill of phasing the purchases and procurement of construction materials in a planned manner is called Construction Materials Management. 

The basic need for any construction is the material which is to be incorporated in the work. For instance, stones and stone aggregate, bricks, cement, steel, timber are some of the essential items which are to be acquired in adequate quantities and at proper rates. Since no construction agency would like to purchase the materials at any rates or costs, the procurement of. materials is to be planned keeping the need in view. The reliability of the supply is an important factor so that there is a continuous flow of materials and no stoppage of work takes place for the want of materials causing wastage of expenditure on idle labour, tools and plant. 

The material component in all the works is not the same. Normally, the cost of some important items in construction is known by experience. The component of materials cost varies from work to work. In normal buildings, the cost of bricks account for about 14% to 16% of the cost. Cement and steel account for as much as 40% to 45% of the cost in normal building works. In roadwork, the cost of stone aggregate may contribute to about 50% of the total cost. In a concrete bridge, the component of cost of steel and cement is as high as 50% to 55% and in a steel bridge the cost component of steel is likely to be 75% to 80%. In a water supply distribution work, the cost of pipes and other joining accessories can be as high as 80%. The percentage of cost contributed by materials in a work underlines the importance of ensuring an efficient materials planning and procurement policy suiting the expected output of the work. 

The main purpose of planning the cost component of materials is to plan out the phases in which they are required and follow up the work ensuring a proper flow of funds. The idea is also to ensure supply of quality goods in time. It is a fact that in a situation where the money flow is easy and materials of good quality are always easily available on the shelf' and there is good competition among the vendors supplying the materials, the construction material planning becomes an easy task and perhaps, it is not even needed. 

After understanding the importance of planning the inputs in construction, let us first know the essential construction components which are given in subsequent paragraphs.