CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Material as the general term is used to connote raw materials, spare parts and components, consumable stores, packeting materials, subassemblies etc. use to produce a good or services. For many manufacturing firms, materials account for more than half (1/2) of the production cost. As production activity becomes more highly automated, materials proportion of the project cost tends to increase.
On the other hand, for a services outfit, the proportion of materials cost is lower. The use of these materials and their control involves cost and could influence profit. Therefore, their efficient management is vital to avoid delays through storage, acquisition of goods unfit for their intended purpose, or serious expenditure and erosion of profit which is the basis for material management. With this integrated approach to material management, all jobs encompassed by these activities would be under the overall direction of a material manager whose responsibility is to manage the procurement and delivery of material for company use.
Material resources are the heart and life wire of any construction industry. This is because the production and distribution activities as well as the general overall performances of any construction organization will be shaky in the case of under stocking or poor management of material. Such materials are the gravel, sand and other aggregates which are found in building construction site. This materials if there not properly manage will lead to poor extension of building work.