Everything You Need to Know About Concrete and Masonry Products

🧱 Everything You Need to Know About Concrete and Masonry Products

Concrete and masonry materials form the literal foundation of construction — but managing their inventory and distribution requires specialized tools. Unlike simple packaged goods, these materials are weight-based, batch-sensitive, and environmentally reactive.

Here’s a deep dive into the characteristics of these products — and how an ERP system can help you manage them more accurately and efficiently.

🪨 1. Types of Concrete and Masonry Products

Your warehouse may carry a wide range of products, including:

Ready-mix concrete

Mortar and grout mixes

Concrete blocks and pavers

Cement, lime, and sand

Additives and bonding agents

Each type comes with its own packaging, UOM, storage rules, and expiration dates — all of which can be managed via ERP.

📦 2. Unique Inventory Challenges

Common issues:

Bulk and bagged product tracking

Short shelf life or weather sensitivity

Risk of material contamination or damage

ERP solutions:

Use batch/lot tracking to monitor expiration

Define environmental storage zones

Automate FIFO inventory rotation

🔁 3. Unit of Measure Complexity

Concrete and masonry items are bought and sold in pounds, tons, cubic meters, bags, or pallets — and often transferred between them.

What ERP can do:

Handle dynamic UOM conversions

Match sales, stock, and shipping units accurately

Prevent over/under shipment of material

🚛 4. Delivery & Load Planning

Delivering heavy masonry materials takes careful planning.

ERP features:

Build delivery routes based on weight and volume

Schedule multi-drop deliveries

Generate load sheets with weight limits and safety warnings

🧾 5. Order Customization & Special Mixes

Sometimes contractors request custom blends or additives for specific projects.

How ERP helps:

Store formulas for custom mixes

Link them to batch production and traceability records

Label custom products for job-site delivery

Final Takeaway:

Concrete and masonry products require a precise approach — and a strong ERP system helps you manage them with full visibility, accuracy, and compliance.

Need help managing complex concrete and masonry inventory? Contact us — our ERP experts are ready to help.