— How to Stay Accurate, Efficient, and Jobsite-Ready with ERP-Driven Tools
🧱 Why Drywall and Wall Panel Products Are Challenging to Track
Drywall sheets, gypsum boards, and cement panels look simple—but managing them in a busy warehouse is anything but.
Here’s why:
✅ They come in various sizes, thicknesses, and fire/moisture ratings
✅ They’re easily damaged in storage or handling
✅ Orders are often fulfilled in phases (rough-in, finish, etc.)
✅ They’re bulky to store and transport, taking up valuable yard space
✅ Installers require jobsite-accurate quantities to match construction stages
So what’s the solution? Smart inventory tracking strategies powered by your ERP system.
✅ Strategy 1: Use Spec-Rich SKU Naming and Categorization
The Problem:
“4×8 Drywall” doesn’t cut it when you stock ½”, ⅝”, fire-rated, moisture-resistant, and soundproof varieties.
How to Fix It:
Create detailed SKU naming conventions (e.g., 5/8″ Type X 4×12 FR Gypsum Board)
Tag products with key attributes: thickness, rating, finish, edge type
Link each SKU to specs and datasheets in the ERP system
ERP Advantage:
Sales, warehouse, and dispatch teams can search, filter, and quote with confidence.
➡️ Better SKU visibility = fewer order errors.
✅ Strategy 2: Implement Location-Based Tracking by Product Type
The Problem:
Without organized storage, panels get mixed or mispicked—and damaged during excessive handling.
How to Fix It:
Assign bin locations by product type and size
Use dedicated racking or floor space for specific SKUs
Store moisture-sensitive products indoors or in covered areas
ERP Advantage:
Scan panels in and out of bins
Track movement history by zone, pallet, or unit
Get alerts when panels are misplaced or overstocked in one area
➡️ Inventory control starts with location clarity.
✅ Strategy 3: Use Barcode Scanning for Receiving, Picking, and Shipping
The Problem:
Manual tracking = missed panels, wrong sizes, and incomplete deliveries.
How to Fix It:
Apply barcode labels on bundles or pallets
Scan panels during receiving, staging, picking, and loading
Match scanned items against order pick lists in ERP
ERP Advantage:
Prevents shipping the wrong thickness or fire rating
Tracks every sheet from warehouse to jobsite
➡️ If it’s not scanned, it doesn’t ship—no guesswork involved.
✅ Strategy 4: Manage Inventory by Jobsite or Project Phase
The Problem:
Builders often want drywall delivered in stages, not all at once.
How to Fix It:
Break orders into delivery phases within the ERP (e.g., Framing Phase 1, Finish Phase 2)
Tag quantities for each phase so they can be staged and tracked separately
Generate pick lists and load sheets for each stage
ERP Advantage:
Keeps your warehouse from overloading a jobsite too early
Makes phased deliveries smooth and traceable
➡️ Deliver what’s needed—when it’s needed.
✅ Strategy 5: Rotate Inventory Using FIFO (First-In, First-Out)
The Problem:
Drywall left too long in storage may warp, get scuffed, or become unsellable.
How to Fix It:
Use FIFO logic in your ERP to prioritize oldest stock first
Assign date codes or batch tags on receipts
Run aging reports to monitor inventory health
ERP Advantage:
Reduces scrap and protects product quality
Flags overstocked SKUs before they become deadstock
➡️ Fresh stock = flawless installs.
✅ Strategy 6: Track Breakage, Returns, and Damaged Goods
The Problem:
Panels returned from jobsites or broken during handling aren’t always accounted for in real time.
How to Fix It:
Use a return zone for all incoming panels
Log each return with reason (damage, wrong size, jobsite overage)
Track adjustments in the ERP so inventory is never overstated
ERP Advantage:
Gives real-time visibility into sellable vs. damaged stock
Helps identify patterns—like high breakage rates on specific SKUs or shifts
➡️ Returns and damage tracking = tighter margins and smarter restocks.
✅ Strategy 7: Sync Inventory Levels Across Multiple Yards or Locations
The Problem:
One yard is overstocked, the other’s out of stock—and no one knows it.
How to Fix It:
Use your ERP to track inventory across all branches or yards
Let your sales and dispatch teams see real-time levels by location
Enable inter-yard transfers with in-system movement tracking
ERP Advantage:
Prevents over-ordering or understocking
Speeds up fulfillment by moving stock where it’s needed
➡️ One system. Total visibility. No surprises.
