Bell, L C and Stukhart, G (1986) Attributes of materials management systems. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 112(1), pp. 14-21. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Construction materials management is generally recognized to be the integrated coordination of materials takeoff, purchasing, expediting, receiving, warehousing and distribution. When these functions are not properly managed, materials shortages, surpluses, and cash flow problems are likely to occur. Costly labor delays result when the required quantity or quality of materials are not available when needed. The attributes of materials management systems are discussed and the essential elements of a successful system identified. Owner-contractor, engineer-contractor, and home office-project site communications appear to be critical to the success of the materials management effort. Preconstruction materials planning and personnel orientation and training are also important. The complex on-line computer programs that are used to coordinate the materials management effort are costly, but essential, if the desired degree of control is to be exerted to prevent potential shortages, surpluses, and cash flow problems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | engineer, shortages, coordination, personnel, materials management, cash flow, owner, construction material, computer program, purchasing |
| Subjects: | financial management, management, profession, operations management, building materials, software systems, procurement strategy, sociology, economic analysis |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Procurement, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Site Management, Engineering Principles, Organizational Design, Human Resources, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here