AN EVALUATION OF MATERIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

This study investigates material management practices in building construction, focusing on their effectiveness and efficiency. The study aim to identify current material management practices that are in the building industry; to examine the effectiveness of material management procedure in building industry; to establish the must effective material management practices. The study adopted a descriptive survey. The sample size was 133. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from professionals in the construction industry to assess current practices, their impact on projects, and the efficiency of management approaches. data of this study was analyzed using SPSS V20. The study therefore revealed that 47.8% of respondents emphasized regular monitoring and controlling of material inventory, while 28.6% prioritized material handling and storage practices. Only 17.4% reported a well-structured procurement process as crucial, and just 7.6% had up-to-date tracking systems. Most respondents (52.63%) strongly agree that material management effectively reduces material wastage (mean = 3.66). The statement on minimizing project delays ranks lower, with 41.35% strongly agreeing, suggesting that material management’s impact on preventing delays is not as widely recognized. The study concludes that while traditional practices remain prevalent, there is a clear need for modern tracking systems and enhanced staff training to improve material management efficiency. Recommendations include adopting advanced technologies, improving training programs, and conducting regular audits to optimize material management in construction projects.