On construction sites, reliable and on-time material delivery is an important element of success. Without the timely arrival of essential supplies like concrete, steel, stone and brick, nothing can be built. Delays, over-ordering and lack of storage space cause hold-ups and complications on a construction site, making it a necessity to consider construction delivery methods and efficient storage.
In construction, the prompt delivery of material relies on an intricate supply chain that includes manufacturers, suppliers, engineers and contractors. The process includes everything from planning and sorting to warehousing and transporting, and even one broken link in the chain can easily compromise the project’s success.
Just as a construction traffic management plan (CTMP) provides a blueprint for traffic and people to navigate around your site safely, a construction supply delivery plan manages the safe, effective transportation, storage and management of materials.
As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have responsibilities regarding the safety of your staff and obligations regarding the design, manufacture, import, or supply of plant, substances, or structures. If you’re not sure what obligations you need to fulfil for delivering construction materials safely, SSTC can help.
Here is the SSTC guide to construction delivery methods, managing deliveries and storing materials on your construction site.
Managing material deliveries and storage on a construction site involves strategic decisions at every stage of the process. Some of the biggest considerations include:
There’s a lot to consider regarding the layout of a construction site, and one important factor is optimising the use of space. The site should use the room you have available efficiently, minimise transport distance and reduce the risk of accidents. Factors to pay attention to include entrances and exits, access roads, parking areas, material and equipment storage areas and security measures.
It’s imperative to make sure materials arrive at the right locations, in the right quantities and at the right times. This is where record-keeping systems come in handy for allocating and tracking material. Many construction professionals order their materials daily. While this can make sense if you need to minimise storage space, it can leave you in a difficult spot if supply chain issues arise. It’s better to develop a construction supply delivery plan to coordinate deliveries with your suppliers and your project schedule.
Coordinating multiple deliveries means working with multiple suppliers to make sure they know how much material you need, when you need it by and if there are any other deliveries to work around. If you have a series of deliveries arriving over the course of a day, you want to make sure they don’t arrive at times when you’re likely to be dealing with a prior delivery. If you have limited access points, it’s even more essential to ensure your timing is well-coordinated and your communication is clear.
Your team and your inventory management systems are also going to play key roles in making sure multiple deliveries arrive without a hitch.
Safety is everything in the construction industry, and SafeWork NSW’s Pocket Guide to Construction Safety has a section dedicated to loading and unloading materials from trucks. There are some important factors involved when you’re aiming to unload materials safely. Is there an exclusion zone around the unloading area? Are mechanical aids and other lifting devices well-maintained, with current safety certifications? Do the workers involved in unloading hold the appropriate safety licences?
Construction professionals commonly store materials in a variety of locations, including storage facilities and warehouses, company vehicles and construction sites themselves. Some best practices when it comes to storing construction site materials include:
Keep the same types of material (e.g., concrete, metal, brick, etc.) together and designate specific areas where they will remain protected from sun damage, heat, and moisture.
The amount of space on your worksite, along with other factors like site layout and security, determines where and how you can store materials. Keep them in a dry and climate-controlled environment whenever possible, and cover them with a tarp if stored outdoors.
Regardless of where you store your materials, you should secure them against theft. Consider using measures like locks, security cameras, or lighting to deter thieves.
A system for tracking inventory—whether involving software or manual records—helps you keep track of materials across multiple locations.
The most common risks involved with the delivery of construction materials include:
Delays can stem from last-minute changes in orders, supply chain disruptions or poor project management. Due to the fact that they can derail the entire process and cost you unnecessary expenses, you should have clear communication processes in place to prevent delays.
Construction projects are massive, complicated projects. The volume of paperwork involved, along with the pressure to speed up work and save money, can result in clerical errors. This can cause miscommunications, incorrect orders and delays in approval processes.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions have caused delays and increased costs in construction and other industries. Construction managers should monitor the state of national and global supply chains and the risk of material shortages.
Miscommunications and unclear expectations, particularly in the upper echelons of management, often cause disruption all the way down the chain. One way to prevent this is to have a well-conceived construction plan in place.
A construction logistics plan (CLP) outlines the logistics of a particular construction project, including material delivery, storage, and handling. It is a comprehensive and detailed plan that provides guidelines and procedures for every factor involved in receiving and storing construction materials. These considerations include the delivery schedule, industry standards, storage areas, safety measures, inventory management, and waste management.
If you need assistance finding the right construction delivery and storage methods, SSTC can help you form a plan of action.
We’ve been navigating legal requirements in the construction industry for a long time and have a disciplined approach that goes above and beyond to meet expectations. We understand the importance of construction site safety, which is why we provide construction traffic control in Sydney, including construction traffic management plans, traffic controllers, safety equipment and a fleet of purpose-built Utes.
With 25+ years of combined experience in construction, SSTC prioritises safety standards at the highest level. For a construction supply delivery plan that works for you, contact the SSTC team for a free quote.