Keep supply chain problems away from your jobsite

September 1, 2021
By John Cherry | Vice President of Construction Sales

Large construction projects are complicated.
Essential products and people are constantly moving around the jobsite, deliveries are being made, and the foreman is keeping the project on pace to hit the completion date. When the layers of a build are planned months in advance, a single problem can cascade into a swarm of complications.​

How to incorporate a supplier in your construction project
Know what you're facing

• Product delays – undelivered or missing products force contractors to scramble.

• Lack of inventory controls – product shortages can halt a project, and excess inventory creates clutter and excess costs.
• Time lost – extra trips to get supplies or lost items in the yard take hours’ and days’ worth of productivity. ​

Start talking

• To get ahead of potential headaches, communicate with your suppliers. Let them know your priorities, goals, and challenges for this build.
• Inform them of your project’s key milestones and what you expect when they are on the jobsite.
• Talk about how and where you want products delivered. If you have a preferred delivery schedule, make that clear so they can adjust. They need to accommodate your needs.
• The goal of communicating with your suppliers is simple: Make sure essential items are on or near the jobsite at every step of the build.

Keep things running smoothly
Like so many other things in life, managing a build relies on the same thing repeated three times: communication, communication, communication. To foster the relationship between your crew and your supplier:

• Communicate regularly (weekly if possible) so that needs can be anticipated and planned.
  Encourage communication between subcontractors and suppliers so small hindrances don’t cause major issues.
• Alert your supplier of any issues you are experiencing so they can adjust and provide the assets for you before you even need them.​

What does it look like when you are aligned with your supplier?
Once you and your suppliers are on the same page, the benefits should be tangible.

• You’ll see less clutter in the supply yard.
• You’ll have a dependable flow of material to the jobsite.
• You’ll also have fewer purchase orders and less paperwork.

Finally, and most importantly, your project can stay on time.

​Let's Talk!
If you need help coordinating supplies for your current or future build, reach out to the Fastenal Construction team today!

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Let's Talk!
If you need help coordinating supplies for your current or future build, reach out to the Fastenal Construction team today!
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