---
title: "Short note: Material scheduling"
subject: "Project Engineering"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_7/project_engineering:material-scheduling-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/material-scheduling-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Material scheduling

Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling

- Asked in: 2067 Asar (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [Materials Procurement Scheduling in a Baseline Programme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U51cE_CWxsI) — Planning Engineer FZE.
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/material-scheduling-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3

## Question

Write a short note on material scheduling.

## Short answer

Material scheduling plans material quantities, availability dates and ordering times to avoid delays and excess stock. It links bill quantities to the schedule, adds wastage and lead time, and orders by latest date. Benefits include no idle labour, less storage loss and better cash flow.

## Answer

**Material scheduling** is the planning of what material is required, in what quantity, and when it must be available at site, so that the work is not delayed and money is not locked up in excess stock.

#### Steps
1. Take the quantity of each material from the bill of quantities for every activity (quantity of work x material per unit).
2. Link the quantities to the project schedule to get the **material requirement** period-wise (weekly or monthly).
3. Add wastage (usually 3-5 %) and allow a buffer stock.
4. Find the **latest date of ordering** = date of need - lead time (procurement, transport, testing) - safety margin.
5. Plan storage, handling and payment.
6. Monitor deliveries against the schedule and revise it when the work schedule changes.

#### Example (house project of 24 weeks)

| Material | Quantity | Needed from (week) | Lead time (weeks) | Order latest (week) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement | 600 bags | 3 (foundation) | 1 | 2 |
| Reinforcement steel | 8 t | 6 (plinth beam) | 3 | 3 |
| Bricks | 30,000 nos | 8 (walls) | 2 | 6 |
| Doors and windows | 24 sets | 19 (fixing) | 5 | 14 |

#### Benefits
- Material is available when needed, so no idle labour.
- Reduces storage cost, theft and damage.
- Gives cash-flow requirements and helps in bulk purchase.
- Important in Nepal where delivery to remote sites and monsoon roads can cause long lead times.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the main purpose of material scheduling?
   A. To have the right material at site when needed without locking up money in excess stock
   B. To reduce the project duration by crashing
   C. To assign workers to activities
   D. To compute project probability
   Answer: A. It plans what, how much and when material is needed so work is not delayed and money is not tied up. (Key point: Purpose of material scheduling)

2. How is the latest date of ordering found?
   A. Date of need + lead time
   B. Date of need - lead time - safety margin
   C. Date of need x wastage
   D. Project start date + lead time
   Answer: B. Material must be ordered early enough to cover procurement, transport and testing time, plus a margin. (Key point: Latest date of ordering)

3. Bricks are needed from week 8 and have a lead time of 2 weeks. When must they be ordered latest?
   A. Week 10
   B. Week 7
   C. Week 8
   D. Week 6
   Answer: D. Order week = 8 - 2 = 6. (Key point: Worked example)

4. How is period-wise material requirement obtained?
   A. By linking BOQ-based quantities of each activity to the project schedule
   B. By taking the total quantity only
   C. By copying the previous project's order
   D. By dividing cost equally over weeks
   Answer: A. Quantity per activity (work quantity x material per unit) is placed in the weeks when the activity occurs; wastage and buffer are then added. (Key point: Linking quantities to schedule)