What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to assess material planning and management practices in construction projects and their effectiveness.

April 1, 2026Open Access

Material Planning and Management in Construction Projects

RPRavikumar Shantibhai Parmar PPProf. (Dr.) J. R. Pitroda RPReshma L. PatelUniversity of Bradford

Key Points

This review aims to assess material planning and management practices in construction projects and their effectiveness.
Analysis of studies published from 2008 to 2025
Review of material management approaches and technologies
Evaluation of challenges faced in construction material management
Effective material management can reduce waste and improve project performance.
Common issues include material shortages and poor communication among stakeholders.
Technological solutions such as BIM and RFID are increasingly adopted to enhance efficiency.

Abstract

Material planning and management play a vital role in the successful completion of construction projects because construction materials represent a large portion of the overall project cost and directly affect project time, productivity, and efficiency. Proper planning ensures that the required materials are available at the right place, in the right quantity, and at the right time during project execution. However, many construction projects experience problems such as material shortages, delays in procurement, improper storage, and poor coordination among stakeholders, which often lead to cost overruns, schedule delays, and material wastage. This review paper examines previous research on material planning and management in construction projects by analyzing studies published between 2008 and 2025. The literature highlights several important approaches used to improve material management, including material requirement planning, inventory control techniques such as Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and ABC analysis, and effective supply chain coordination between suppliers, contractors, and project managers. Recent studies also emphasize the growing use of modern technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and digital material tracking systems to improve monitoring, logistics, and decision-making in construction projects. In addition, the reviewed studies show that efficient material management practices can reduce material waste, improve material availability, and enhance overall project performance. Despite these advancements, many construction projects still face challenges related to inaccurate estimation, inefficient communication, and weak material handling systems. Therefore, this review provides an overview of existing practices, identifies key challenges, and highlights opportunities for improving material planning and management through better planning strategies, technological integration, and stronger coordination among project stakeholders.

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