🏡You can use Microsoft Project to track construction materials like cement, steel, bricks, tiles, doors, windows, equipment, and delivery schedules by combining:
Tasks (What work is happening)
Resources (What materials are needed)
Timeline (When materials are needed)
Cost Tracking (How much material costs)
Responsibility (Who controls it)
For a General Contractor like you, this becomes a simple Material Control System.
Simple Material Tracking System in Microsoft Project
1. Create Material Resources
In Microsoft Project:
Go to:
View → Resource Sheet
Add materials like this:
| Material Name | Type | Material Label | Std Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cement | Material | bag | $5 |
| Rebar D12 | Material | pcs | $12 |
| Sand | Material | m³ | $18 |
| Tiles 60x60 | Material | box | $25 |
Meaning of Each Column
Type = Material
This tells Microsoft Project:
“This is not a worker.”
“This is a consumable material.”
Material Label
Unit of measurement:
bag
kg
m³
pcs
box
Example:
Cement = bag
Steel = ton
Sand = m³
Std Rate
Cost per unit.
Example:
1 bag cement = $5
Then Microsoft Project automatically calculates:
Quantity × Rate = Total Cost
2. Create Construction Tasks
Example:
| Task Name |
|---|
| Foundation |
| Column Concrete |
| Brick Wall |
| Floor Tile |
3. Assign Materials to Tasks
Go to:
Task → Assign Resources
Example:
| Task | Material | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Cement | 120 bags |
| Foundation | Rebar D12 | 300 pcs |
| Brick Wall | Brick | 5000 pcs |
How Quantity Works
In Microsoft Project:
120 bags
300 pcs
20 m³
These are called:
Material Consumption
Microsoft Project will automatically:
Calculate total cost
Track usage
Show overloads
Show timing of material needs
4. Track Delivery Dates
Create separate delivery tasks.
Example:
| Task |
|---|
| Deliver Cement |
| Deliver Steel |
| Deliver Tiles |
Then connect them to construction work.
Example:
Deliver Cement → Foundation Concrete
This helps you know:
Material must arrive BEFORE work starts.
5. Use Gantt Chart for Material Timeline
The Microsoft Project Gantt Chart helps you see:
When material is needed
Which week materials arrive
Which activities consume materials
Delays caused by late delivery
6. Track Actual Material Usage
During construction:
Update:
| Planned | Actual |
|---|---|
| 120 bags | 135 bags |
This helps detect:
Waste
Theft
Rework
Poor estimation
7. Use Baseline for Comparison
Set baseline:
Project → Set Baseline
Then compare:
| Planned | Actual |
|---|---|
| Cost | Real Cost |
| Quantity | Actual Quantity |
| Schedule | Real Delivery |
This is very important for contractors.
Best Setup for Construction Contractors
Recommended Structure
| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Task | Concrete Work |
| Labor Resource | Workers |
| Material Resource | Cement |
| Cost Resource | Transport |
| Milestone | Material Approved |
Example Real Construction Workflow
Foundation Work
Tasks
| ID | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order Cement |
| 2 | Deliver Cement |
| 3 | Foundation Concrete |
Resources
| Resource | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Cement | 120 bags |
| Sand | 15 m³ |
| Steel | 300 pcs |
Result
Microsoft Project can show:
Material cost
Delivery schedule
Consumption timing
Delayed delivery impact
Budget variance
Advanced Method (Professional GC System)
Large contractors often add:
Custom Columns
Example:
| Material Status |
|---|
| Ordered |
| Delivered |
| Installed |
| Shortage |
RACI Material Control
You asked earlier about RACI.
You can combine it like this:
| Task | Responsible |
|---|---|
| Order Cement | Procurement |
| Receive Cement | Storekeeper |
| Approve Usage | Site Engineer |
| Verify Quantity | QS |
This creates a professional Material Control SOP.
Recommended Views
In Microsoft Project use:
| View | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Gantt Chart | Schedule |
| Resource Sheet | Material List |
| Resource Usage | Consumption |
| Tracking Gantt | Planned vs Actual |
| Team Planner | Responsibility |
Most Important Idea
Microsoft Project is not only for schedule.
For contractors, it becomes:
TIME + MATERIAL + COST + RESPONSIBILITY CONTROL
That is why professional construction companies use it for:
Procurement tracking
Material delivery
Site control
Cost control
Delay prevention
Resource planning