CMMS: Computer-aided Construction Materials Management System

Many management-oriented problems exist amongst various construction organizations in the world, especially in developing countries. Among these materials management has been an important issue. This research is aimed at identifying drawbacks associated with materials management as practiced in the industry and developing a computerized Construction Materials Management System (CMMS) to overcome these. CMMS consists of five main modules i.e., materials requisition, purchase, delivery, reports generate, and system maintenance. It was developed with the collaboration of three grade M11general contractors operating in Colombo metropolitan area in order to ensure its ability to address materials management needs. The development was carried out using “Access 2000” software since it is a prototype. CMMS is a tool for managing construction materials in a timely manner and provides the ability to retrieve relevant file in an efficient and effective manner. The system has been successfully tested within the participatory organisations.