Construction Materials Handling

Materials handling management consists

of the use of proper technique for moving,
transporting, storing or distributing
materials with or without the help of
mechanical appliances
Because of various complexities in the
construction processes, management
must be acquainted with various material
handling devices so that unit cost of
construction can be cut down
Construction Materials Handling

All materials handling activities must

be simplified and must be fully safe,
preventing any accidents.
Also materials movement planning
must be economical in terms of time
and labor.
Storage and Inventory Management
It is very essential to keep a close watch on the
supplies of various materials ordered to ensure the
smooth progress of the project works and to
eliminate any chances of wastage and pilferage.
The objective of controlling and monitoring is
facilitated through scheduling of material
requirement
As per the schedule of the project a material
calendar/material schedule indicating the
quantities of various materials required date wise.
The actual delivery date of material is compared
with the proposed delivery date. If the actual date
is ahead of the proposed date, it is acceptable but
long storage must be avoided.
Storage and Inventory Management
If the actual date matches with the proposed
date, it is the ideal procurement management.
When the actual date is behind the schedule,
this will delay the completion time
When actual consumption is more than the
supplies, reasons may be overconsumption,
wastage or pilferage of materials. Timely
corrective action is required
When actual consumption is less than the
supplies, it indicates the wrong estimation of
the quantities.
 Store management
Objective of store management
i. Minimum utilization of the space for storage
ii. Easy handling during the process of receipt,
inspection, storage and issue and to insure
undisturbed flow
iii. Preservation of stores against spillage,
breakage, deterioration and theft
Iv. proper maintenance of store accounts to
have control over receipts and issues and to
fix accountability of any deficiency.
Store management
During managing a store, the following are key points to
note:
receiving materials, goods and equipments and checking
them for identification
proper recording to receipts of goods
Placement of right materials at right place
Maintenance of stocks safely and in good condition
issues of items to the users only on the receipt of
authorized store requisitions
Recording and updating receipts and issue of materials
Making sure that stores are kept clean and in good order
Preventing unauthorized persons from entering the store
Planning of storage space (optimum utilization of space)
by ensuring economy and efficiency
Storing of civil engineering
materials
The civil engineering materials should not be affected
by impurities or by atmospheric agencies like the sun,
wind, rain or moisture.
Hence materials like cement, lime must be stored in
covered sheds and stacked in timber raised platforms
Reinforcing steel should be stacked away from
moisture to prevent rusting and also away from oils,
lubricants. For easy handling each type of bar should be
stacked separately.
Timber is generally affected by sun and also by poor
ventilation. Hence they must be stacked in a well
ventilated shady space similar lengths should be
stacked together
Each type and size of coarse and fine aggregate must
be stacked separately on hard and clean surface
Storing of civil engineering materials

Bricks, tiles and concrete/stone blocks are stacked at

ground level limiting the height of stacking from 1 to 2
meters
Door/window frames and framed panels are to be stacked
vertically and fully supported
Water supply pipes and drain pipes are to be stacked on
timber platforms raising them clear off grounds
Sheet glass being extremely fragile should be stacked
vertically with an inclination of 30 to 60 on hard bed.
Highly inflammable materials should be stacked
separately from other combustible materials and in a
place protected from fire hazards. Smoking should be
strictly prohibited in such areas.
Storing of civil engineering
materials

Explosive materials should be

stacked away from combustible and
other materials in safest place . They
should be kept under lock and key
and all statutory warnings must be
taken.
Planning materials Inventory

The term Inventory implies the cost of materials

in stock at a given time. This stock of materials is
held to act as a cushion between supply and
demand.
The monetary value of inventory indicates the
extent of investment required to maintain minimum
stock of materials for smooth running of the project.

Higher inventory implies higher investment, and

less inventory carries the risk of supplies falling
behind demand.
A balanced inventory act as a cushion between
supply and site requirement till supplies are
received. This include predetermined safety stock
to cater for slippages in delivery schedules.
It is therefore, necessary to hold a planned stock of
construction materials at the project site to ensure
a timely supply of the expected quantity of
 Costs of inventory
The effective management of inventory involves a tradeoff
between having too little and also too much inventory.
Inventory costs:
i. Ordering Costs: requisitioning, preparation of purchase
order, expediting, transport and receiving and placing
in storage, set-up costs
ii. Carrying Costs: interest on capital locked up in inventory,
storage and handling costs, insurance, depreciation,
and property taxes.
iii. Shortage Costs: arise when inventories are short of
requirement for meeting the needs of production or the
demand of customers.
Loss of sales, loss of customer goodwill, disruption of
production schedules.
Inventory Management Minimizing Costs

The goal of effective inventory

management is to minimize the total
costs that are associated with ordering
and holding inventories.

Choose the level of inventory with the

lowest total cost after estimating the
different expenses with varying
inventory levels.
Question
s?