Why FIFO vs. LIFO Inventory Strategies for Construction Supply Matter More Than You Think
In the world of building materials, inventory isn’t just a balance sheet item — it’s a moving, aging, value-driven asset that needs careful strategy behind how it’s stored, rotated, and valued. And that’s where FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out) come in.
Most distributors are familiar with these terms from accounting. But in day-to-day operations, choosing and executing the right inventory flow strategy directly affects your cash flow, stock integrity, and even customer satisfaction.
Let’s look at why these strategies matter more than they’re often given credit for — and how to apply them smartly in a construction supply environment.
The Basics: What FIFO and LIFO Really Mean
FIFO assumes the oldest stock is sold or used first.
✅ Best for: Perishable or degradable items like adhesives, insulation, or sealants.
LIFO assumes the most recent stock is used first.
✅ Often used for: Commodities where costs are rising — like steel, copper, or bulk cement.
Both can be applied in warehouse operations, even if you’re following a different method on the books for accounting purposes.
Why FIFO Is Essential for Certain SKUs
If you store moisture-sensitive, chemically reactive, or packaging-limited products, FIFO is non-negotiable.
Benefits of FIFO in operations:
Prevents spoilage or degradation
Reduces customer complaints from expired or hardened materials
Ensures better lot traceability in the event of recalls or defects
Makes cycle counting more predictable with aged stock tracking
Use Cases:
Liquid or bagged adhesives
Bonding agents and sealants
Fire-retardant coatings
Pre-mixed construction chemicals
Pro Tip: Use your ERP to flag product shelf life, generate aging reports, and auto-prioritize older lots for picking.
Why LIFO May Be Useful — But Comes With Caveats
In some segments of the construction supply industry, material cost volatility is the name of the game.
LIFO operational benefits:
Helps match current sales prices with recent (higher) purchase costs
Can protect gross margins in inflationary markets
Reduces tax liability by increasing COGS in certain fiscal strategies (U.S. only)
Use Cases:
Rebar, steel mesh, and other metals
Bulk-purchased aggregates or cement
SKUs with minimal degradation risk and long shelf life
Watch out for: LIFO can make physical inventory less intuitive and requires very clear ERP configuration to avoid confusion between cost layers and storage movement.
Operational Risks If You Ignore Strategy
If you’re just moving whatever’s easiest to access, you could face:
Overstock of aging, unsellable inventory
Surprises during audits and year-end reconciliation
Misalignment between operations and finance teams
Reduced profitability due to missed margin control
In short: movement strategy isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
How ERP Helps Enforce FIFO or LIFO
Your system should enable:
Automated pick order by receipt date (FIFO) or by batch number (LIFO)
Alerts for expired or aging inventory
Real-time visibility into lot codes, movement history, and shelf life
Dual-layer tracking (financial method + operational method, if different)
Reporting on cost flow, stock turnover, and inventory aging by strategy
ERP is where your inventory logic becomes executable at scale — not just a policy in a binder.
Final Thoughts
FIFO and LIFO aren’t just about accounting compliance. They’re real-world tactics that influence how you manage space, reduce risk, and protect your bottom line.
Whether you’re focused on keeping chemicals fresh, managing rising raw material costs, or improving traceability, your strategy has to start with intentional inventory flow — and your ERP should be the tool that drives it.
Because in construction supply, the real cost of inventory is the cost of not managing it well.
