Unmanaged job site material can affect many aspects of a project such as: timeline, budget, and the overall success of a building. Job sites can easily become hectic and hard to manage because there are multiple moving parts that all depend on each other. Planning for the right materials to arrive at the right time is something that can cause a major headache when it comes to managing a project. It isn’t uncommon for materials to not show up when promised, for materials to be stolen from the jobsite, incorrect quantities to be dropped off, and the list could go on. Once materials have arrived, another level of management comes with keeping things tracked and organized until it comes time to install. So with all of these things factoring in to the completion of a project, what can you do to manage materials in the most effective way?
4 Tips for Managing Job Site Materials:
- RFID Solutions – Radio frequency identification allows the materials manager to tag and scan every shipment of material to keep record of when and where it was delivered as well as what building or section of a project the material is supposed to be used for. Once the material is received and tagged, it should be moved to a (2).
- Central Location – Storing material can be hard when you have large, heavy materials in large quantities. One way that you can be sure material is accounted for and easily accessible when needed is by keeping everything in a monitored central location. Having a check-out system to keep track of when materials are used can help to make sure that materials are accounted for at every stage of the building process, all the way through installation.
- Inventory Apps – Since everything in today’s world is done electronically, using an app on your smartphone might be the easiest thing for a materials manager. Apps such as Inventory Scanner and Inventory Tracker are easy and cost effective ways to track materials. These apps allow for you to use your phone to track materials with a click of a button. Another positive about using an app on your phone is that the information you need is at your fingertips whenever you need it.
- Have a Policy – Once you have determined the best way to track material for your project, it is important that the method is communicated to everyone using the material. In order for your method to work, everyone involved with materials needs to know who to contact about materials and the proper way to remove the materials from the central location.
No matter which technique is best for you and your project, the most important thing is that you have clear method and that you communicate that method with your team. Job site materials management is something that makes a difference between good projects and great projects.
Make your next project your most productive project ever by making materials management a top priority.
