Fundamental Principles of Site Material Management

Abstract

This paper was written to fill a void created by the absence of fundamental principles of site construction management. Efficient material management is essential to managing a productive and cost efficient site. For more than 25years , the senior author has been observing and writing about inefficient labor productivity practices resulting from poor site material management. Using deductive reasoning, fundamental principles were developed to avoid poor practices. A construction site should be portioned into three areas or zones: semipermanent (exterior) storage, staging areas, and workface (interior) storage. Each has a unique function relative to site material management. Using these areas as a framework, fundamental principles are stated and illustrated using a case study project accompanied by numerous photographs and narratives.